WEST FOOTSCRAY ARTS PRESENTS
From poetry in a wine bar and bookshop ramblings to library workshops and performances at a pizza restaurant. Don’t miss this fun, immersive and entirely original celebration of storytelling in the west.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
FRIDAY 28TH MARCH
Festival Launch:
Stories from The West
WHEN: 5–7 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Library
FREE EVENT: BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
The festival launches with stories from
Footscray High students, Maxine
Beneba Clarke, André Dao, and Ernest Price.
Group Readings:
If These Streets Could Talk
WHEN: 7:30–9 PM
WHERE: The Chestnut Tree
TICKETS: $20
Quick-fire storytelling, wine & nibbles.
Fiona Scott-Norman, Daniel James, Liz Crash,
Sean Fallon, Charlie Lewis, Dominique Hes.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
SATURDAY 29TH MARCH
FREE KIDS
EVENT
Children’s Book Reading:
With Deborah Frenkel
WHEN: 10–11 AM
WHERE: The Chestnut Tree
FREE EVENT
Yarraville-based children’s author
Deborah Frenkel will read from her
fabulous book, The Truck Cat.
FREE KIDS
EVENT
Sing, Read, and Create:
With Julie Anne Grasso
WHEN: 11 AM -12 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Library
FREE EVENT
Join Julie Anne Grasso for story time,
songs and a fun craft activity inspired by her
book, Hooray, Hooray, It’s Library Day.
Artist in residence:
Oslo Davis
WHEN: 11AM –1 PM
WHERE: Chestnut Tree Bookshop
FREE EVENT
Beloved local artist, Oslo Davis, will capture the festival bustle in drawings. Feel free to peek over his shoulder or come and have a chat.
Clarke St Pop Up Park:
Book Fair & Live Music
WHEN: 10 – 2 PM
WHERE: Pop-Up Park
FREE EVENT
Buy a book with a can of food for the local Food Pantry (or a gold coin donation). Find hidden gems and
beloved books at our second-hand book fair.
WORKSHOP
Bad Writers Club presents:
Type Your Fucking Heart Out
WHEN: 11 AM – 4 PM
WHERE: The Chestnut Tree
FREE EVENT
Take a seat, pick a prompt, and pour your
heart onto the page with a trusty typewriter.
FREE
WORKSHOP
Zine Writing Workshop:
With 100 Story Building
WHEN: 12 – 2 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Library
FREE EVENT: BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Craft branching storylines for a
”Choose Your Own Adventure” zine in this
workshop from the 100 Story Building crew.
Panel Discussion:
The West Makes the News
WHEN: 3–5 PM
WHERE: Harley & Rose
TICKETS: $20
Journalists Najma Sambul, Benjamin Millar and
Barbara Heggen discuss the Western Suburbs representation in the media.
Author Conversation:
Growing Up West
WHEN: 5:30–6:30 PM
WHERE: Harley & Rose
TICKETS: $15
Authors Shu-Ling Chua and Saanjana Kapoor
explore how growing up in the Western Suburbs influenced their work. (Stair access.)
WORKSHOP
Workshop:
Shit Drawing
WHEN: 6:30–8.30 PM
WHERE: Chestnut Tree Bookshop
TICKETS: $30
Move past your fear of drawing and get your
feelings on the page in this fun workshop with artist
and cartoonist, Sarah Nagorcka AKA Gorkie.
Group Readings:
First Floor Fantasy
WHEN: 7:30–9:30 PM (18+)
WHERE: Harley & Rose Upstairs
TICKETS: $15
Indulge in an evening of quickfire erotic storytelling
by local authors, including Jinghua Qian, Thuy On, Rochelle Siemienowicz, Aud Pitch. (Stair access.)
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
SUNDAY 30TH MARCH
WORKSHOP
Fiction Writing Workshop:
With Imbi Neeme
WHEN: 10 AM -12 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Library
TICKETS: $30
Explore the transformative power of
perspective in storytelling in this
fiction writing workshop.
Artist in Residence:
Sarah Nagorcka
WHEN: 11 AM - 1 PM
WHERE: Chestnut Tree Bookshop
FREE EVENT
You could find yourself on the page with
this one-of-a-kind drawing experience as
Gorkie captures the festival vibes.
Vicki Couzens In Conversation:
Stolen Lands Stolen Language
WHEN: 11 AM - 12 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Library
TICKETS: $20 (First Peoples Free)
Yoonggama - the promise of continuance. In conversation with Daniel James, Vicki discusses restorative justice and restitution
through language and cultural reclamation.
Publishing Panel:
An Agent, An Author, and
an Editor Walk into a Library…
WHEN: 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Library
TICKETS: $25
Expert panel discussion that demystifies
the publishing process and equips
new writers with the tools to succeed.
Group Poetry Readings:
West Footscray Wines
WHEN: 12 PM - 2 PM
WHERE: West Footscray Wines
PRICE: $20
Step into a beautiful courtyard for poetry readings,
wine and nibbles with Thuy On, Amanda Anastasi,
Lia Dewey-Morgan and Gurmeet Kaur.
In Conversation:
Helen Garner & Bob Murphy
WHEN: 2 PM - 4 PM
WHERE: WHITTEN OVAL
PRICE: $30
Don’t miss this conversation about sport,
adolescence, belonging and community between two greats of The West. Moderated by Mel Fulton.
Closing Night Readings:
From the Belly of The West
WHEN: 5 PM - 10 PM
WHERE: Harley & Rose
PRICE: $30
Six new stories inspired by the Inner West from Alice Pung, Jinghua Qian, Sam Elkin, Rijn Collins, Emilie Collyer & Tina Cartwright. With The Orbweavers.
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