Ashgrove Literature Festival inspires young minds
Next week, Ashgrove State School is hosting the inaugural Ashgrove Literature Festival – a three-day community event running August 19–21, focused on literature and creativity. Seven children’s authors will be attending the festival to talk to kids about the books they have written. Along with authors’ talks, there will be creative writing sessions custom-designed by QUT.
Ashgrove State School has also created the Ashgrove Literature Foundation, a philanthropic body which funds the attendance of small local schools at the festival. Students from schools such as Mt Nebo (37 students) and Hendra (56 students) are bussed to Ashgrove for the day to enjoy a ‘big school experience’. They get the opportunity to listen to authors, participate in the writing sessions, experience the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, partake in lunchtime activities run by Queensland Rugby and the Brisbane Roar, and take back a box of resources for their school’s library. In addition, the author sessions are being broadcast through the QLD Education network so remote schools can join in as well.
The Ashgrove Literature Foundation has been fund-raising to make this possible – in May the foundation ran the successful Girls Night Out and the second community event is happening during the festival. On Wednesday August 20, award-winning writer Matthew Condon will be discussing his latest book Jacks and Jokers with Dr Kari Gislason (QUT academic, author and Ashgrove dad). Jacks and Jokers exposes the corruption that infiltrated Queensland society during Terry Lewis’ reign as Police Commissioner. Tickets to this event can be booked here for $20 each, which includes wine and canapes on arrival. Drinks and books will be available for sale and there are some wonderful raffle prizes.
Image credit: Russell Shakespeare.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
