MWF 2017 schools program released

Monday, 22 May 2017 Books+Publishing

The Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) has released its schools program for 2017.

This year’s program, which runs from 28 to 31 August, features US author and tech entrepreneur Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, who launched the website MuslimGirl at age 17 ‘because she was frustrated at the misrepresentation of Islam in mainstream media’.

Local authors include John Marsden, Clementine Ford, Randa Abdel-Fattah, Morris Gleitzman, Sally Rippin, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Cath Crowley, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

The secondary schools program explores issues around ‘identity, belonging, bullying and digital lives’. Events include Hashtags & Digital Lives, which offers insights into cyberbullying; Video Games Writing, with tips from games writers Dan Golding and Leena Van Deventer; How I Came To Australia, which explores migrant experiences; and a Footy Girls panel with AFLW Collingwood player Emma King, and authors Nicole Hayes and Alicia Sometimes.

Primary school students will be able to participate in ‘Professor Frankie’s Harry Potter’ and illustration activities with Children’s Laureate Leigh Hobbs.

‘The program has something to fuel every student’s imagination. It will get them writing, illustrating, investigating, thinking and questioning,’ said festival director and CEO Lisa Dempster.

To view the full program, click here.

Category: Junior Local news