The Press Christchurch Writers’ Day

Media Release The Press
Christchurch Writers’ Day 2007

Attention: Arts & Entertainment Reporters:
Chief Reporters

For Immediate Release

The Christchurch Book Festival Trust presents

The Press Christchurch Writers’ Day

September 9, 2007

Gallery venue transformed by words of art

The Press Christchurch Writers Day presents an acclaimed line-up of celebrated writers in a celebration of outstanding achievement in New Zealand literature. The panellists include a diverse selection of the country’s most acclaimed professional writers in a series of sessions at the Philip Carter Family Auditorium at Christchurch Art Gallery on September 9.

Building upon the 2006 Christchurch Writers’ Festival, the Writers’ Day will encompass academic writing, modern poetry, new fiction and award-winning recent works. Highlights will include the presentation of New Zealand’s leading award for poetry, and a forum featuring the winners of the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

The first session will feature Huhana Smith, Senior Curator of Maori Art at Te Papa, practising artist, and General Editor of Taiawhio I & II: Conversations with Contemporary Maori Artists. Smith offers a broad insight into the visual arts and their relationship to the written word, as well as providing a window into what is driving one of the most vibrant sectors of New Zealand contemporary art.

The following session, chaired by Michael Moynahan, Managing Director of Random House, showcases four of the most outstanding authors - Owen Marshall, Charlotte Grimshaw, Sarah Laing, and Carl Nixon. These writers will explore creative process and provide an insight into the state of New Zealand fiction in 2007.

Five New Zealand Poets, chaired by Laurice Gilbert (President, New Zealand Poetry Society), will examine the work of contemporary poets Andrew Johnston, James Norcliffe, Tusiata Avia, Dinah Hawken and John O’Connor. This session will review the divergent take on the poetry form by each of these writers and examine the direction and future of modern poetry. This session will culminate in the presentation of the Lauris Edmond Memorial Award for Poetry to a writer demonstrating outstanding achievement in the poetry form.

Morrin Rout will chair the final session of the 2007 Writers’ Day in a forum highlighting the winners of the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. William Cottrell, George Gibbs and Ann Packer will each discuss their work and influences, and what the prize has meant to their careers.

The Press Writers Day takes place on September 9 in the Philip Carter Family Auditorium of the Christchurch Art Gallery. Bookings can be made with Ruth Todd on (03) 384 4721 or email ruth.todd[at]xtra.co.nz.

ENDS

Sessions times:

September 9, 2007

12.00pm – 1.00pm: New Conversations with Maori Artists
(Huhana Smith)
1.30pm – 2.45pm New – New Zealand Fic tion
(Owen Marshall, Carl Nixon, Charlotte Grimshaw, Sarah Laing)
3.00pm – 4.00pm Five New Zealand Poets
(Andrew Johnston, James Norcliffe, Tusiata Avia, Dinah Hawken, John O’Connor)
4.15pm – 5.00pm Winners Montana Book Awards
(William Cottrell, George Gibbs, Ann Packer)

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