Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival
Each year, the festival brings an array of thought-provoking writers to the region including novelists, journalists, academics and established and emerging storytellers from WA, interstate and overseas.
The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2018. What began as a modest local project in 2009 has grown to be Western Australia’s largest regional literary festival with a significant youth component that tours schools in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and the City of Busselton.
Young Readers & Writers Program
Our Young Readers & Writers Program tours primary and secondary schools bringing our children’s authors into schools to spark creativity, celebrate storytelling and foster a love of reading and writing.
The program runs for two weeks around the main festival in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, City of Busselton, Bunbury, Augusta and surrounding areas. The program is proudly supported by Lotterywest, the Rotary Club of Margaret River, Doral Mineral Sands, Margaret River & Cowaramup & Lions Clubs, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and City of Busselton
Artistic Director – Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival
Sian Baker is the Artistic Director of the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, WA largest regional literary festival. Before joining ArtsMR, Sian spent the last 20 years as Managing Director and Creative Director for marketing, communications and advertising agencies in London and Australia. In that time, she has created award winning campaigns, experiential events, online content series and festivals for a wide range of well-known brands including London 2012, Under Armour, Rugby World Cup, World Athletics, John Lewis, Netflix, LEGO and Audible…to name just a few.
As Artistic Director of MRRWF Sian is responsible for the long term strategic and artistic vision of the annual literary festival. This role encompasses programming international and Australian literary talent, artists and performers and delivering all aspects of the festival.
In the last four years she has evolved, innovated and revolutionised the MRRWF programming. In addition to the Festival’s literary program, she has produced and staged teasers of two new plays (I’m With Her and Because we’re Blak!), one new dance performance (Julia), launched a new festival program in Busselton (The Busselton Special Edition), a new Fringe Program showcasing regional mutli-arts storytellers, a new program of Writers Workshop highlighting new and emerging authors and has personally produced and supported the work of new and emerging writers and performers from across WA.
Arts Margaret River Inc
Arts Margaret River is a not for profit community arts organisation and the creator and presenter of the Margaret River Readers & Writer Festival.
The team is headed up by Sian Baker (Artistic Director).
Over the Festival weekend, Sian is supported by the Arts Maragret River Team including Michelle Wright (General Manager), Stephanie Kreutzer (Community liasion), Chris Young (Marketing), Trevor Brannan (Finance/Administration), Ian Smith (Volunteer manager) and Jane Kerr (Project Assistant),
In addition to the Arts Margaret River team, we have an incredible and dedicated number of part time staff and community volunteers also assist with many tasks.
We could not deliver the festival without them ♥