NEWS
Margin Notes News, events and announcements from Byron Writers Festival
Update on 2021 Festival programming
their creativity and freedom of expression, a new StoryBoard bus was purchased in February 2021 (pictured left). Artwork for the bus was created by artist Justine Wallace using elements of the old bus and introducing new illustrations to create a fun and fresh look. In honour of Jesse, one illustration features a ‘young’ Jesse surfing alongside a huge whale on a paper plane. We are looking forward to many more joyous adventures in the StoryBoard bus. Thanks to the NSW Government for supporting StoryBoard and the purchase of the bus.
Since announcing the cancellation of 2021 Byron Writers Festival, messages of love, support, understanding and encouragement have flooded in from across the country. Our spirit is bolstered by the realisation that the Byron Writers Festival is so deeply valued by our Festival family and the wider community. Rest assured, we will be back in 2022! In the meantime, the Festival will be curating a small selection of would-be 2021 Festival conversations as podcasts over the coming months. Some Festival workshops are moving online, (see the workshops page), plus, stay tuned for rescheduled live events throughout the region later in the year, pending restrictions. Rescheduled events will be updated at byronwritersfestival. com/whats-on, and 2021 Festival sessions released as podcasts will be available via byronwritersfestival.com/digital
StoryBoard’s new bus hits the road After six years and up to 200,000 kilometres clocked up travelling far and wide to schools, regional libraries and community festivals in the Northern Rivers, StoryBoard’s colourful Mercedes bus was finally retired in early 2021.
Jonathan Franzen: Crossroads digital event
Jesse Blackadder’s dream of running a creative literacy program for young people in the region came to fruition in 2015 with the launching of StoryBoard. At the time of her passing in 2020, an exceptional author and illustrator team had reached over 25,000 young people from as far west as Kyogle to Kempsey in the south and Tweed Heads in the north.
In his first Australian event celebrating the release of his highlyanticipated new work Crossroads, the singular Jonathan Franzen (pictured below) will discuss family, America, and where the modern novel must go from here with ABC
To carry on Jesse’s inspiring legacy of providing regional young people with opportunities to enhance
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