Melbourne Writers Festival 2009 Launch

Message from Rosemary Cameron, Melbourne Writers Festival director

Why do I love festivals? The usual reasonsmy ideas are changed and my eyes opened. I'm challenged, amused, cajoled and entertained.

But a festival is more than that.

Festivals are love affairs. The breathlessness and the hoopla, the dizziness and the don't give-a-damn misbehavin'.They shake you to the core. Festivals are pressure cookers with an intensity of authors, stories and ideas which spark off each other in a way that ordinary events can't. Time does not run straight during festivals. Festivals are winning the grand final. They are the Coliseum and the smile on the Mona Lisa.

They are a box of 72 Derwent pencils, flying a kite, dancing all night, champagne by the crate, blue satin sashes and brown paper parcels tied up with string. They are the razzle dazzle of fireworks, moons and Junes and Ferris wheels. They are Chanel No 5, shimmying sequins, torch songs, a pot of honey for elevenses, bubble baths and white tie, top hat and tails.

Abandon the everyday, the tepid and the ordinary and join the Writers Festival. It is a comet streaming across our winter sky - grab its tail and don't ever let go.

I love festivals. You will too.

(with apologies to Cole Porter, AA Milne, Rogers & Hammerstein, Joni Mitchell et al)

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• MWF

[mayatiita1]

Melbourne always has the best festivals. That's Melbourne, it's like a kid with a huge interest in every bloody single thing that's cultural. It's inspiring! If I wasn't stuck here in Sydney running my business and raising a family that's where I'd be, Magnificent Melbourne. Perhaps I could sell my business someday and convince my partner to move there... fingers crossed.

[jimlefevre]

Wonderful literary festival, I am very envious. The film does really well to convey the potential and promise and it looks brilliant!

good luck with the festival and whoever made the film well done (hope the budget wasn't disgraceful!)!