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Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Heartbreaking': Bendigo Writers Festival opens, barely, with dozens of events cancelled
'Primarily, our concern is about censorship and its immeasurable cost,' they said. 'We can't speak for the authors and their reasons, but nothing good ever results from silencing intelligent and engaged people who are speaking up against injustice. Complex conversations, such as those which occur at writers festivals, are crucial to addressing complex issues, locally and globally.' Since the release of the code, at least 34 writers have withdrawn from the festival. Twenty-one sessions have been cancelled, with ticket holders to be issued automatic refunds. High-profile departures include La Trobe history professor Clare Wright, who co-curated the La Trobe series within the festival, Overland editor and Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen, academic and author Randa Abdel-Fattah, and journalists and writers such as Jess Hill, Claire G. Coleman and Paul Daley. Wright said she had curated nine sessions for the La Trobe stream of the festival's program and was to have hosted the opening night gala and closing session, and appear on a panel discussing her own book, Ṉäku Dhäruk: The Yirrkala Bark Petitions, recently shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Explaining her decision to withdraw, Wright said the fallout from the festival was a result of what happened when 'managerialism trumps morality'. 'I think this is what happens when arts and educational institutions are not prepared to stand on principle against the significant pressure from Zionist organisations and other conservative lobbyists and outlets,' she said. Wright, who is also a professor of history and professor of public engagement at La Trobe University, said there must be space for difficult conversations to be held at writers festivals and in places of higher education. 'The idea that you can risk-manage your way out of uncomfortable conversations when there is a genocide unfolding in real time, when violence against women is at epidemic proportions, when neo-Nazis are marching down our city streets, when we're in the grips of a climate catastrophe, when sovereignty was never ceded in settler colonies, these are all the difficult topics we can and must discuss, respectfully and lawfully, at writers festivals and in places of higher education.' Loading Graphic novelist and artist educator Ita Mehrotra proceeded with her Saturday session, which was not part of the La Trobe-sponsored stream. However, she has since withdrawn from a Sunday panel she was to have shared with three other authors. All four pulled out, prompting the festival to cancel the event. Mehrotra said she was deeply conflicted about participating but used her Saturday appearance to speak openly with attendees about the unfolding boycott. 'This kind of mass pullout isn't something I've seen [before],' she said. 'We need spaces that allow for dialogue, that allow for uncomfortable conversations … to not allow for that is heartbreaking. 'It sets the tone for how people are thinking and the culture of the space. You're going to crush dialogue. It's a bleak future if this is how things are.' Mehrotra added that authors and attendees shared a profound sense of disappointment about how events had unfolded. 'It's not on the authors, it's on a university having crushed this event,' she said. In the wake of Bookish's withdrawal, the store was flooded with customers on Saturday, many offering messages of support. 'Since publicising our decision, we have been overwhelmed with a wave of love and support from all over the country, with messages coming from authors, customers, human rights organisations, bookshops, industry organisations, and people we've never met,' the owners said. 'Obviously, it is a time of mixed emotions for Bookish as well as for the affected authors, but the overarching feeling in our shop today has been one of joy and solidarity. We are confident we made the right choice.' The owners said the festival was the bookshop's biggest weekend of the year and involved months of planning and extra work from their staff. 'It's a logistical nightmare, a huge amount of extra work, and a massive financial blow to a regional small business,' they said. 'To be frank, we'd rather cop the financial loss and fight the good fight.' La Trobe University defended its stance, stating that it was committed to fostering a culture that valued all forms of diversity. 'La Trobe University does not tolerate racism of any kind, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. La Trobe's commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech is consistent with our approach to creating safe environments for the free exchange of ideas,' a spokesperson said. 'Our Anti-Racism Action Plan, which includes a working definition of Islamophobia, was developed through extensive staff, student and community consultation, including of people with lived experience of racism.' On Saturday, Bendigo City Council confirmed that 26 sessions had gone ahead since the festival opened on Thursday, including several sold-out events.
The Age
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Heartbreaking': Bendigo Writers Festival opens, barely, with dozens of events cancelled
'Primarily, our concern is about censorship and its immeasurable cost,' they said. 'We can't speak for the authors and their reasons, but nothing good ever results from silencing intelligent and engaged people who are speaking up against injustice. Complex conversations, such as those which occur at writers festivals, are crucial to addressing complex issues, locally and globally.' Since the release of the code, at least 34 writers have withdrawn from the festival. Twenty-one sessions have been cancelled, with ticket holders to be issued automatic refunds. High-profile departures include La Trobe history professor Clare Wright, who co-curated the La Trobe series within the festival, Overland editor and Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen, academic and author Randa Abdel-Fattah, and journalists and writers such as Jess Hill, Claire G. Coleman and Paul Daley. Wright said she had curated nine sessions for the La Trobe stream of the festival's program and was to have hosted the opening night gala and closing session, and appear on a panel discussing her own book, Ṉäku Dhäruk: The Yirrkala Bark Petitions, recently shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Explaining her decision to withdraw, Wright said the fallout from the festival was a result of what happened when 'managerialism trumps morality'. 'I think this is what happens when arts and educational institutions are not prepared to stand on principle against the significant pressure from Zionist organisations and other conservative lobbyists and outlets,' she said. Wright, who is also a professor of history and professor of public engagement at La Trobe University, said there must be space for difficult conversations to be held at writers festivals and in places of higher education. 'The idea that you can risk-manage your way out of uncomfortable conversations when there is a genocide unfolding in real time, when violence against women is at epidemic proportions, when neo-Nazis are marching down our city streets, when we're in the grips of a climate catastrophe, when sovereignty was never ceded in settler colonies, these are all the difficult topics we can and must discuss, respectfully and lawfully, at writers festivals and in places of higher education.' Loading Graphic novelist and artist educator Ita Mehrotra proceeded with her Saturday session, which was not part of the La Trobe-sponsored stream. However, she has since withdrawn from a Sunday panel she was to have shared with three other authors. All four pulled out, prompting the festival to cancel the event. Mehrotra said she was deeply conflicted about participating but used her Saturday appearance to speak openly with attendees about the unfolding boycott. 'This kind of mass pullout isn't something I've seen [before],' she said. 'We need spaces that allow for dialogue, that allow for uncomfortable conversations … to not allow for that is heartbreaking. 'It sets the tone for how people are thinking and the culture of the space. You're going to crush dialogue. It's a bleak future if this is how things are.' Mehrotra added that authors and attendees shared a profound sense of disappointment about how events had unfolded. 'It's not on the authors, it's on a university having crushed this event,' she said. In the wake of Bookish's withdrawal, the store was flooded with customers on Saturday, many offering messages of support. 'Since publicising our decision, we have been overwhelmed with a wave of love and support from all over the country, with messages coming from authors, customers, human rights organisations, bookshops, industry organisations, and people we've never met,' the owners said. 'Obviously, it is a time of mixed emotions for Bookish as well as for the affected authors, but the overarching feeling in our shop today has been one of joy and solidarity. We are confident we made the right choice.' The owners said the festival was the bookshop's biggest weekend of the year and involved months of planning and extra work from their staff. 'It's a logistical nightmare, a huge amount of extra work, and a massive financial blow to a regional small business,' they said. 'To be frank, we'd rather cop the financial loss and fight the good fight.' La Trobe University defended its stance, stating that it was committed to fostering a culture that valued all forms of diversity. 'La Trobe University does not tolerate racism of any kind, including antisemitism and Islamophobia. La Trobe's commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech is consistent with our approach to creating safe environments for the free exchange of ideas,' a spokesperson said. 'Our Anti-Racism Action Plan, which includes a working definition of Islamophobia, was developed through extensive staff, student and community consultation, including of people with lived experience of racism.' On Saturday, Bendigo City Council confirmed that 26 sessions had gone ahead since the festival opened on Thursday, including several sold-out events.
The Age
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Not a time for silence': More than 30 authors quit Bendigo Writers Festival
Bendigo Writers Festival has cancelled its opening night gala, hours out from the event, and a number of sessions have also been cancelled as the list of writers withdrawing from the event over free speech concerns continues to grow. On Wednesday, participants in the La Trobe University stream of the festival received a code of conduct, detailing what they can and can't say at the event. Since then, others in the line-up have been told the code would be in their festival pack when they arrived. Some 34 writers have now pulled out in protest, the latest group including Melanie Cheng, Jock Serong and Thomas Mayo. As reported on Thursday, La Trobe history professor Clare Wright, who co-curated the La Trobe series within the BMF, has also resigned, along with Overland editor and Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen and academic and author Randa Abdel-Fattah. Others include Jess Hill, Claire G. Coleman, Sonia Orchard, Daniel James, Fiona Stanley, Kirstin Ferguson, Michelle Scott Tucker, Kylie Mirmohamadi, Kate Larsen, Jaclyn Crupi, Cher Tan, Madison Griffiths, Kelly Gardiner, Sarah Firth, Rachel Ang, Bernard Caleo, Ita Mehrotra, Jonathan Butler, Jeanine Leane and journalist/author Paul Daley. Some have withdrawn in protest at being asked to sign the code of conduct; others in solidarity despite not being asked to sign themselves. The withdrawals are happening so rapidly the festival seemingly can't keep up. Events involving participants who have announced their withdrawal via social media still have those listed as active on the website. The code of conduct says participants are expected to engage in 'conversations that are inclusive, thoughtful, and welcoming to diverse perspectives. Avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. 'Writers' festivals are meant to be the places where you can discuss sensitive issues – the other places are universities,' says one author who preferred not to be named. Kate Mildenhall, author of The Mother Fault, who has withdrawn, said the code of conduct impeded free and frank discussion. One of the questions she was going to raise at her session was 'How do you see censorship in literature playing out in the world at the moment?'.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Not a time for silence': More than 30 authors quit Bendigo Writers Festival
Bendigo Writers Festival has cancelled its opening night gala, hours out from the event, and a number of sessions have also been cancelled as the list of writers withdrawing from the event over free speech concerns continues to grow. On Wednesday, participants in the La Trobe University stream of the festival received a code of conduct, detailing what they can and can't say at the event. Since then, others in the line-up have been told the code would be in their festival pack when they arrived. Some 34 writers have now pulled out in protest, the latest group including Melanie Cheng, Jock Serong and Thomas Mayo. As reported on Thursday, La Trobe history professor Clare Wright, who co-curated the La Trobe series within the BMF, has also resigned, along with Overland editor and Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen and academic and author Randa Abdel-Fattah. Others include Jess Hill, Claire G. Coleman, Sonia Orchard, Daniel James, Fiona Stanley, Kirstin Ferguson, Michelle Scott Tucker, Kylie Mirmohamadi, Kate Larsen, Jaclyn Crupi, Cher Tan, Madison Griffiths, Kelly Gardiner, Sarah Firth, Rachel Ang, Bernard Caleo, Ita Mehrotra, Jonathan Butler, Jeanine Leane and journalist/author Paul Daley. Some have withdrawn in protest at being asked to sign the code of conduct; others in solidarity despite not being asked to sign themselves. The withdrawals are happening so rapidly the festival seemingly can't keep up. Events involving participants who have announced their withdrawal via social media still have those listed as active on the website. The code of conduct says participants are expected to engage in 'conversations that are inclusive, thoughtful, and welcoming to diverse perspectives. Avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. 'Writers' festivals are meant to be the places where you can discuss sensitive issues – the other places are universities,' says one author who preferred not to be named. Kate Mildenhall, author of The Mother Fault, who has withdrawn, said the code of conduct impeded free and frank discussion. One of the questions she was going to raise at her session was 'How do you see censorship in literature playing out in the world at the moment?'.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Authors ditch Bendigo Writers Festival over freedom of speech concerns
Stella Prize winner Evelyn Araluen is among a growing number of authors to withdraw from the Bendigo Writers Festival in protest over restrictions on their freedom of speech, in the latest sign of the deep divisions that have erupted in the literary world over Israel-Palestine. Participants of the event were given a code of conduct, seen by this masthead, that stated they must 'avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. The code of conduct also required compliance with La Trobe University's definition of antisemitism. La Trobe has adopted the Universities Australia definition, which several universities around the country have not accepted, saying it conflates antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government and anti-Zionism, and therefore prohibits people speaking out. The code of conduct applies to the La Trobe component of the festival, co-curated by Professor Claire Wright - author of Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions, which this week was short-listed for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. Having devised nine sessions featuring the university's academics and alumni, Wright has also resigned in protest. Others who have also withdrawn include journalist Jess Hill, authors Thomas Mayo, Kate Mildenhall, writer Claire G. Coleman, academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, poet and activist Jeanine Leane and journalist Paul Daley. Araluen wrote to the BWF organisers saying the festival code of conduct 'directly infringes on my freedom of speech… my cultural duty as a First Nations woman and my obligation as someone with a large platform to speak out against oppression, which includes speaking out against Israel's ongoing UN-defined genocide of the Palestinian people.' 'After Israel's latest campaign to permanently silence Al-Jazeera journalists, most recently on Monday, when 23 were killed in a targeted strike, it is reprehensible that a writers festival should ask anyone, let alone a First Nations woman, to self-censor,' Araluen wrote. Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah also wrote to the BWF to withdraw, saying 'I cannot take part in any festival that asks me to endorse a framework that demands my self-censorship.'
