2015 TASMANIAN POETRY FESTIVAL
Cameron Hindrum
Jonathan Bowden
Launceston is set to be immersed in verse again, with the 2015 Tasmanian Poetry Festival getting under way on the 29th September.
Celebrating its 30th year, the Festival again takes the pulse of contemporary poetry in Australia and finds it well and truly alive and kicking, according to Festival Director Cameron Hindrum.
“We’ve invited a broad range of exciting poets to Launceston this year and they will share their work over nine events between September 29 and October 11,” Hindrum said.
“This year the Festival includes a film premiere, a boat cruise, two poetry slam events and readings at the splendid Royal Park site of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery as well as some other iconic Launceston locations.” The QVMAG reading will be broadcast live on City Park Radio and the festival is also visiting Deloraine this year, with an open-mic reading there on Sunday October 11th.
Invited guest readers this year include Ivy Alvarez, Conrad, Billy Marshall Stoneking, Duncan Hose, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Caitlin Maling, Lyndon Walker, Anne Collins, Oliver Garden and Irish Joe Lynch.
“As always, the program is diverse and stimulating, incorporating a full range of poetic styles, voices and experiences, ranging from Lyndon Walker’s music-inspired confessions to Ali Cobby Eckermann’s beautiful evocations of indigenous stories and symbols,” Mr Hindrum said.
Two highlights of this year’s Festival include an masterclass with Ivy Alvarez, ‘Poems that Pack Punch’, on the afternoon of Friday October 2nd. “Ivy has a very strong international reputation and we are thrilled to offer the chance to learn from one of the best,” Mr Hindrum said.
The other ‘must attend’ event is the world premiere of guest poet Conrad’s film ‘Heretic’, at the Nuala O’Flaherty Auditorium on Thursday evening, October 1. “Conrad describes herself as an ‘obsessive outsider’ and this film portrays her unique and compelling journey into the heart of what it means to be an artist,” Mr Hindrum said.
“Afterwards Conrad will participate in Q&A with the audience to answer questions about the film and her work more generally.”
Weekend Passes for the Festival are available at Volume 2 Books in St John Street for $50 or $40 concession; individual events are $12 or $10 concession. For more information about the Festival, including information and sample poems from our Guest Poets, please visit www.taspoetryfest.org or contact the Festival at tpf_inc@yahoo.com.au .
Places for the Ivy Alvarez masterclass ($45, or $80 for the Masterclass and a Festival Weekend Pass) are strictly limited and only three remain. Email the Festival at the above address to book a place. Bookings are also required for Words on Water on Friday evening October 2—reserve a place by emailing the Festival.
The Festival thanks Arts Tasmania, the WD Booth Charitable Trust, Arts Regional Tasmania and the Launceston City Council for their support.