Page 4 - Auckland Writers Festival

CELEBRATInG
THE
WRITTEn
WORD
A WORD FROM THE MAYOR
Welcome to the Auckland Writers Festival 2015. For the 15th year, our annual literary festival has a stunning line-up of world-class local and international writers whose talks, debates and readings will stimulate, invigorate and entertain your minds. The writers and audiences the Auckland Writers Festival attracts
are testimony to the organisers, the Festival’s track record and Auckland’s reputation as an events city. The Festival is a key part of Auckland’s annual arts and entertainment calendar and, like all our festivals, lends a real buzz to the social and economic life of our region. And once again, there are free events and the schools programme to enable everyone to experience the wonders of the written word. I hope you enjoy the line-up.
Mayor Len Brown
A WORD FROM THE CHAIR
SuppORT THE FESTIVAL
Our supporters help make this Festival a world-class cultural event. They are investors in the future of the event, providing funding that
is essential to our ability to attract the most exciting and inspiring writers and thinkers from all over the world to the Auckland stage. Help us to ensure the world of books and ideas remains open to as many people as possible by supporting our programme of events and activities.
SpOnSORSHIp
The Auckland Writers Festival is one of this country’s premiere cultural events and its largest and most successful literary event, hosting world-leading commentators and writers in Auckland every year. The Festival is a highlight of New Zealand’s cultural calendar, with annual attendances of more than 50,000 at over 150 events and it continues to grow. Based on your company’s current objectives, we can work with you to tailor a sponsorship package that provides maximum benefit.
BEQuESTS
If literacy, books and ideas are important to you, please consider making a bequest to The Auckland Writers Festival Charitable Trust.
Nau mai ki te Hui Taurima Kaituhi o Tämaki Makaurau. The 2015 Auckland Writers Festival will bring together some of the best writers and thinkers from New Zealand and around the world. We are delighted to be joined by over 150 writers for a stimulating and entertaining five day event in beautiful Auckland. The Festival will open with a sold out Schools Programme (now in its 7th year), which attracts more than 4,000 students over two days. This is then followed by a diverse and exciting three day programme that we hope will inform, entertain and challenge you. The bookend to the Festival on Sunday May 17, will be a session to honour one of New Zealand’s great writers, C.K. Stead. I’m privileged to work with a talented group of professionals on the Board who bring skill and dedication to the governance of the Festival and support our small, but wonderful staff, led so capably by Anne O’Brien. The core team expands to over 70 volunteers for the Festival week – we are very grateful to them all. I would also like to acknowledge Dr Sarah Sandley, who retired from the Board after last year’s Festival. Sarah was a founding trustee and served for 13 years on the Board, including the past seven years as Chair. During that time the Festival has flourished and we thank Sarah for her significant contribution. Finally, on behalf of the Board, I would like to express gratitude to our audience, our writers and our loyal sponsors, funders and supporters. Thank you and enjoy!
Pip Muir
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