One of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest education events has been forced to adapt because of the pandemic and now it’s going global.
The acclaimed Voices on the Coast Literature Festival, which has run for 27 years, traditionally attracted authors and students to the region.
But the impacts of COVID forced organisers to start a new chapter for the festival, by taking it online.
The event made a shift online last year but it will move online for the entire festival this year.
It will be organised by Immanuel Lutheran College and hosted by the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Coordinator Kelly Dunham said they could still deliver their core message of encouraging children to develop a love of reading, on the global stage.
“Because of COVID, we’ve pivoted into an online, virtual festival,” she said.
Classes have been invited to attend any of the virtual sessions, either at the live time or via the recording, after the session has aired.
Tickets are selling around the world, with a school in Prague in the Czech Republic planning to tune in.
A $30 entry will allow an entire class to attend a virtual session.
“Tickets are available at Voices on the Coast and our first session is on Monday, February 28, followed by a week of 15 different sessions until March 4.
“After that, we’re holding two sessions every Wednesday until June 1, so we can accommodate all authors who were to come to the Voices festival in person.”
Questions will also be posted for authors, so they can answer them during the live sessions.
Any member of the public can purchase a ticket for $5 and watch the session again at their leisure.
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The event has even attracted five authors from Perth.
“We have an amazing line-up of authors and illustrators, starting with Kerry Neill from TribalLinks, an indigenous educator of the Kabi Kabi nation who has written children’s books in the Kabi Kabi language,” Ms Dunham said.
“Kerry’s session is called First Nations language revitalisation.
“We also have the incredibly talented and prolific author Jackie French, who will join us in the first week, along with A J Betts, Gavin Aung Tan, Aleesah Darlison, Briony Stewart and Ellen Van Neerven.
“In the extended Virtual Festival, we have Amie Kaufman, Matt Stanton, Danielle Binks, Remy Lai, Samantha Wheeler, Felice Arena and Sami Bayly.
“Full details can be accessed via our website at voicesonthecoast.com.au.”
Dr Sarah Pye and Dr Wong Siew Te will launch their latest book, Wildlife Wong and the Bearded Pig, and Dr Wong will join audiences from Malaysia.
USC, MIX FM, QBD, The InkSpot Printers and the Sunshine Coast Council Grants Program helped make the festival a reality.
