Storyfest Festival Guide 2022

Storytelling excites our imagination and awakens our senses. It is the most ancient of ways in which we share knowledge and create memories. For more than 40,000 years, the First Nations people have utilised songlines to establish walking and hunting routes across Australia. These songlines were incredibly important and demonstrate the earliest examples of how communication between clans was established.

The Storyfest program is important to our youth as it introduces them to books and opens up their world to the joy that can be derived from great story-telling. When I read to my grandchildren today, I can see their eyes light up as the story unfolds. It is one of the most cherished times I get to spend with them. I’m delighted to see Lann Levinge appointed as the inaugural First Nations Artistic Director for Storyfest 2022. His talent as a singer/songwriter and producer will add great chemistry to the program. Our youth face a world that is both fast-paced and complex. The way we communicate, the devices used, the information being exchanged and the intent of the messaging, is rapidly changing. This presents both challenges and opportunities and I hope Storyfest strips back those layers and reminds us all of the joy that can be found in books. The Storyfest 2022 program has something for everyone and I applaud organisers and sponsors for making it happen. Tom Tate Mayor

As we tackle another year in uncertain times, Storyfest continues to deliver literary activities, not only for our Gold Coast community but to extend those opportunities to regional Queensland. This year, we will host the inaugural Storyfest Out West in Longreach giving bush children access to authors and books! I’m thrilled to welcome Lann Levinge as our inaugural First Nations Artistic Director. I encourage the community to join with us in celebrating these sensational young artists, showcasing a variety of ways to share stories. As with many arts organisations, funding and grants have been exceptionally difficult to secure, therefore in 2022, we will host an Annual Giving Day and we ask our supporters to save the date – Wednesday 30 March! The Board has approved a 3-year strategic plan, the first of which will see master storyteller, Fiona McIntosh bring her Commercial Fiction Masterclass to the Gold Coast taking the masterclass out of Adelaide for the first time ever! There are exciting plans ahead and I encourage you to come along on the journey of storytelling with us. To my Board, I sincerely thank you for your continued support. Tayla, Gabriella, Cecile and Casey, teamwork makes the dream work…

welcome. ceo

Ms Andrea Lewis CEO/ Festival Director