Blak & Bright 2022 program announced

The program for the 2022 Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival, running 17–20 March in Naarm (Melbourne), has been announced.

The program includes 27 events featuring over 67 guests including Alexis Wright, Tony Birch, Claire G Coleman, Jazz Money, Nardi Simpson, Ellen van Neerven, Tara June Winch, Chelsea Watego and Yung Tent Embassy activists. The festival will have in person and live streamed events, and the majority of events are free.

The third Blak & Bright festival will open with a Welcome to Country and commissioned performance of Solace, a multi-disciplinary performance exploring men’s mental health. Progam highlights include Melissa Lucashenko on the theme ‘What’s Changed? What’s Stayed the Same?’ with a spotlight on writers Jazz Money, Alexis Wright and Crystal McKinnon; a session unpacking the importance of Blak voices in the media with Daniel Browning, Thomas Mayor and Declan Fry; and a panel of six 10-minute talks from six social activists from a range of social justice sites, with Elder activist Aunty Ronnie Gorrie.

Alexis Wright will read from her existing oeuvre as well as an excerpt from a new work, while in Borrow a Living Book festival attendees can sit down with an Elder at Mabu Mabu’s Big Esso bar and kitchen in Federation Square to hear the story of their lived experience.

‘We have designed a bold new festival with new talent, new stories and new events, delivered in new hybrid ways, while bringing back old favourites (artists and events),’ said festival director Jane Harrison. ‘We figure Blak stories are needed more urgently than ever, in the face of climate change, pandemics, Blak Lives Matter. We need access to connection, compassion and country through stories. Here’s to Blak words live.’

To view the full Blak & Bright program, see the website.

Category: Local news