NTWF 2023

On Monday night our final event for the 2023 NT Writers Festival came to a close. It’s been an extraordinary four days, filled with spellbinding performances, deep discussions, and heartfelt conversations about books, ideas and stories, and about significant issues affecting us all. Holding all of this together, was the constant presence of Arrernte Country — the full moon illuminating readings by the campfire, the thunder and rain punctuating a discussion about listening to the land.

Thank you to the Arrernte people for allowing us to hold this event on your Country, and for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with our audiences. Special thanks to Kumalie Riley for the thoughtful Welcome to Country, reminding us how and why we need to listen deeply to the each other and the world around us.

Thank you to our generous sponsors and partners, without whom this event cannot take place, including Australia Council for the Arts, Northern Territory Government, NT Major Events Company, Alice Springs Town Council, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Regional Arts Australia, Regional Arts Fund, Regional Arts NT, Power and Water, 8CCC Community Radio 102.1fm – Alice Springs & Tennant Creek, Triptic Events, Sydney Writers’ Festival, Australian Society of Authors, Good Reading Magazine, Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation, University of Queensland Press, NT Press Club, Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Magabala Books, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Alice Springs Public Library, Alice Springs Airport, Never Never Distilling Co., Red Kangaroo Books, Red Hot Arts Central Australia, NPY Women’s Council, Sadadeen Party Hire, Mercure – Alice Springs Resort, and Colemans Printing & Signage.

Thank you to our hard-working and dedicated volunteers who greeted and guided our audiences, and who worked so hard behind the scenes.

Huge thanks to the brilliant authors who agreed to take part, lighting up the stage and our imaginations with their words and wisdom.

Finally, thank you to our audiences, for turning up in the sunshine and in the rain, for braving the cold nights, and for sharing in the laughter, the insights, and the moments that moved us to tears. It is you who make this festival a community.

That’s a wrap! Until next year!

Photo credits: Oliver Eclipse.