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: 7:30–9:30 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: SAT & SUN 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.
Bad Writers Club presents:
Type Your Fucking Heart Out
WHEN: SAT & SUN 11AM – 4 PM
WHERE: Chestnut Tree Bookshop
FREE EVENT
Take a seat, pick up a prompt, and pour your heart onto the page with a trusty typewriter.
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:
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
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 - 12:30 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.
SUPPORTED BY
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
