The Press Books and Beyond Festival
The Christchurch Book Festival is the city’s
annual literary event. It’s one of the largest of its
kind in New Zealand and this year it takes place
at Queen’s Birthday weekend, 29 May to 3 June. Core funded by the Christchurch City Council,
the festival also gets grants from Creative New
Zealand, the Community Trust, Montana Wines, the
Heritage Hotel Christchurch, Newstalk ZB,
Starbucks, the Arts Centre of Christchurch, Buddle
Findlay and KPMG. Now in its sixth year, The Press Books and
Beyond festival gives people a chance to hear
international and national writers talk about their
craft and read from their work. The festival will also bring together editors,
publishers, storytellers, critics, politicians,
columnists and artists. This year's line-up includes international writers
Thomas Keneally, Alexis Stamatis and Alison
Groggan, as well as New Zealand writers
Margaret Mahy, Owen Marshall, Stephanie de
Montalk, Michael King and C. K. Stead. The Beyond part of the programme offers a
range of events, from writer discussion panels,
workshops, poetry readings and the return of the
Dark and Stormy Night essay competition. As well, there are Library activities, a read-aloud
series in primary schools, several book launches,
exhibitions and other special events. Full festival programmes will be in the 2 May
issue of The Press and will also be available at the
Christchurch City Council service centres, the
Public Library and the Arts Centre. For more information about the festival, email
festpro@clear.net.nz or call 377 2365. Tickets
will be on sale from 2 May at the Arts Centre
Visitors Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard. For
credit card phone bookings, call 363 2836. This is just one of more than 200 events
listed on www.bethere.org.nz |