Antidote 2021

Overview

Antidote — the Sydney Opera House's festival of ideas, action and change – will return for its fifth year with an entirely online program of talks and panels. This year's program, curated for the final time by Head of Talks and Ideas Dr Edwina Throsby, will champion inspiring conversations and creative solutions during a continually challenging time.

Livestreams will run throughout Sunday, September 5 — featuring talks on solutions to climate change with New Yorker staff writer and Pulitzer prize-winning author Elizabeth Kolbert; alternatives to capitalism with Greek economist, politician and author Yanis Varoufakis; and the future of Indigenous rights and the Uluru Statement from the Heart with three of its writers: Megan Davis, Pat Anderson AO and Thomas Mayor.

Elsewhere on the lineup, you'll find Korean American poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Cathy Park Hong in conversation with Benjamin Law and Beverly Wang on the #StopAsianHate movement; a discussion of morality in Australian politics between Sydney Morning Herald columnist Jacqueline Maley, fellow Herald columnist and host of ABC TV's The Drum Julia Baird and Schwartz Media's head of audio Osman Faruqi; and an a panel on anti-Arab racism in Australia since 9/11 curated by Western Sydney-based literary movement Sweatshop's director Michael Mohammed Ahmad.

Sweatshop is also partnering with Antidote to launch an emerging writers mentorship program for First Nations and culturally diverse writers. Applications for the program are now open, with successful applicants receiving $1000, a pass to Antidote, feedback on their writing and up to 25 hours of mentorship.

Antidote tickets are $15 for a single live stream, $60 for a festival pass if bought before Sunday, August 1 and $75 for the festival pass if purchased from Monday, August 2. Passes for the Uluru Statement of the Heart talk are free — and limited in-person ticket may go on sale closer to the event if public health orders allow crowds to attend.

Antidote 2020 by Prudence Upton

Top image: Daniel Boud