Inaugural DANZ festival announced

The Diversity in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Children’s Book Award organisation (DANZ) has announced it is planning a children’s book festival.

In a brief statement in which it launched a fundraising auction towards the event, DANZ said: ‘Though we can’t give away too many details at this stage, we can tell you that we’re working closely with libraries to create a two-day festival to take place during the 2025 Children’s Book Week and be completely free to all attendees!’

‘That way we can bring some of the incredible marginalised and minority book creators celebrated in the 2024 awards to even the most disadvantaged schools and children. It’s going to be amazing.’

This news follows DANZ’s inaugural awards, hosted earlier this year, which recognise children’s books published in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand which push boundaries, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate diverse and marginalised people and communities.

The organisation was established in 2023 ‘to recognise, award, and celebrate diverse children’s fiction’, with a launch held in partnership with the Australian School Library Association and the School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.

Category: Local news