Arts Margaret River are pleased to announce it has successfully secured funding for the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival (MRRWF) for the next three years (2021-2023) through the Regional Events Scheme (RES), which is supported by the State Government through Tourism Western Australia and Royalties for Regions.
The news was a welcome relief in what has been a difficult year for Arts Margaret River, after this year’s festival along with all of Arts Margaret River’s events, spanning music, theatre, dance and more, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Festival Organisers Tanya Perdue and Michelle Wright said they were thrilled the funding had been confirmed through the Regional Events Scheme in what they anticipated would be a tough period ahead for securing grants and sponsorships. “Having confirmation of RES Funding provides us with the basis to continue planning future festivals”, Ms Wright said. “We’re also delighted that the festival’s successes in strengthening the regional economy through visitor spend, adding vibrancy to the community and helping raise the profile of the region has been recognised.”
The festival has previously welcomed some of the country’s most ambitious and successful writers to the stage including Michael Leunig, Anna Funder, Kerry O’Brien, Clementine Ford, Rosie Batty, Jane Caro, Bruce Pascoe, Stephanie Alexander, as well as international writers Germaine Greer, Geraldine Brooks and Michael Palin. While its 2020 event was not to be, the duo confirmed there would plenty to look forward to in 2021 with a Mini Festival slated for January 23, and the full festival scheduled to take place from 14-16 May 2021 with a new and exciting program and range of literary voices.
For further information, please contact Arts Margaret River on 9758 7316 (back in the office from 2 June) or visit the festival website www.mrrwfestival.com.
The State Government is proud to support the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival as part of its Regional Events Scheme.
The project is also supported by the Australian Governments regional arts program, the Regional Arts Fund, which gives all Australians better access to opportunities to practice and experience the arts. The Regional Arts Fund is administered in Western Australia by Regional Arts WA.
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Image Credit: Michelle Troop