First Nations Storytelling Takes Centre Stage, as Blak & Bright Literary Festival Returns to Explore Resistance, Power and Identity
From creative heavyweights to D&D storytelling, the fifth edition of this leading literary festival showcases enduring power across four inspiring days.
Need some fresh literary inspiration? Perhaps it's time to delve into at least 65,000 years of storytelling at the Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival. Taking place in Naarm/Melbourne from Thursday, September 3–Sunday, September 6, this celebration of First Nations stories and writers fuses tradition and innovation across a stellar program.
Gathering numerous leading First Nations voices, Blak & Bright looks toward the future through stories carried in love, survival and collective memory. For instance, 'The Right to Offend' at The Wheeler Centre features Evelyn Araluen, Melissa Lucashenko, Chelsea Watego, Tony Armstrong and Rudi Bremer, where an in-depth conversation examines censorship, resistance and the politics of public voice from a First Nations perspective.
Also at The Wheeler Centre, 'Her Story Now' presents a free panel discussion between Jasmin McGaughey, Samantha Faulkner, Chelsea Watego, Julie Janson and Kirli Saunders, exploring the power, resistance, creativity and transformative force of First Nations women. Meanwhile, 'What Is Left Will Stay' sees Tasma Walton, Jared Thomas, Melissa Lucashenko, Bruce Pascoe and Rob Waters reflect on the enduring force of words passed between generations
Beyond panel discussions and literary conversations, Blak & Bright also includes events like 'Dungeons & Dragons & Damper' where festival-goers are invited to roll a D20 as they split bread and take part in an experience shaped by Blak imagination, built around an original story by Claire G. Coleman. At Bard's Apothecary, 'Not Straight but Sovereign' offers an intimate evening of spoken word and performance celebrating queer Blak voices.
There are also fascinating experiences for kids, with the narrm ngarrgu Library at Queen Victoria Market hosting a series of fun-loving storytelling sessions featuring admired First Nations authors and illustrators, including Charmaine Ledden-Lewis, Jake Gablonski, Tasma Walton and Aunty Fay Muir. What's more, the festival closes things out beneath the open sky at Camp Sovereignty, featuring an evening of poetry, music and live storytelling.
"This year's program features the voices of some of the country's most influential First Nations commentators," says Bebe Oliver, Artistic Director and CEO at Blak & Bright. "From up-and-comers you may never have heard of to the biggest names in the Australian literary scene, we can't wait to share in the ideas, conversations and workshops which will shape culture, identity, storytelling and social issues moving forward."
Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival takes place at various locations and venues from Thursday, September 3–Sunday, September 6. Head to the website for more information.
Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Images: Supplied.
