Emerging Writers’ Festival takes program online in response to COVID-19

In some positive news for the sector, the Emerging Writers Festival has decided to continue on with its festival event this year, albeit in the form of a digital program.

With so many events across the arts being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic it’s a welcome relief that one festival is still going ahead.

Instead of running its usual festival format, the Emerging Writers Festival (EWF) will now take place online during 16 – 23 June this year, as a response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the precautionary measures advised by local and global health authorities.

Luckily, EWF has a strong track record of presenting an online content-centric festival, as seen through its Digital Writers’ Festival (DWF) and the EWF Digital stream. 

The EWF Festival will consist of a series of events, discussions and online activities that leverage technologies that have reached broad accessibility, enabling participation by attendees who traditionally experience barriers to access, including regionally-based audiences and writers with a disability.

Read: Digital art guide to beat coronavirus closures 

Through virtual webinars, live streams, podcasts and digital projects, EWF will deliver engaging arts and literary events straight to lounge rooms, bedrooms and offices around the world. 

The festival will be a welcome relief for those at home in self isolation as the effects of COVID-19 play out. Festival events will be accessible anywhere, anytime by anyone with an internet connection, and many of the events in the program are free. 

Those involved with EWF are dedicated to presenting an exciting and engaging digital festival in June this year, despite the challenging circumstances presented by COVID-19.

‘We are excited to be able to move forward with an online festival, as we feel that now – more than ever – it is vitally important to provide platforms for art and artists, and to also provide inspiration and opportunities to our audiences,’ said Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) Artistic Director Ruby-Rose Pivet-Marsh. 

The Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) is one of Australia’s most established and well-respected literary festivals. The Festival develops, nurtures and promotes Australia’s new writing talent, creating platforms for connecting writing communities and their audiences. This continues in 2020 with the online festival featuring storytellers of all kinds in an inspiring eight-day program of performances, professional development and innovative digital programming. 

The full Emerging Writers Festival Program announcement goes live on Tuesday 2 June 5:00pm AEDT and is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. For more information visit the EWF website.

Staff writer
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