FAQs

Q: Who can I ask for directions, ticketing or other help when I am at the Festival?
A: The Brisbane Writers Festival's friendly team of volunteers will be posted throughout the Festival to give you any help you might need. They will be easily recognisable, and able to provide a wealth of information.

Q: How much baggage can I carry into Festival sessions with me?
A: Security procedures will be in place at the State Library of Queensland during the Festival - which means the items you may take into sessions with you will be restricted. Limited cloakroom facilities are available - so please ensure baggage is kept to a minimum and do allow time to cloak before your session.

Q: Can I bring food?
A: Students are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages to the Festival. Do note, however, that food is not permitted within the State Library of Queensland.

Q: I am a writer, how do I become a part of the Festival?
A: The Festival program is decided well in advance and normally consists primarily of invited participants. However, the Festival will consider unsolicited submissions at its discretion. Submissions should be directed to The Brisbane Writers Festival's Artistic Director and be received by March 30 at the latest. Final programming decisions are made in late June. Whilst we encourage intellectual diversity within the Festival program, each writer's work will nonetheless need to fit within the broader themes and the Artistic Director's vision for individual Festivals. To submit a proposal for Festival involvement, please send a professional CV or biography (including details of publications and any previous Festival involvement), copies of your work, and any suggestions for possible panel sessions or events.

By email to:
info@bwf.org.au

By mail to:
The Artistic Director
Brisbane Writers Festival
PO Box 3453
South Brisbane Q 4101

Q: I am a writer, how do I get published?
A: Unfortunately, The Brisbane Writers Festival is unable to provide advice on publication. The Festival program does, however, offer numerous workshops and masterclasses providing useful, inspirational advice. Queensland-based writers may also find membership of the Queensland Writers Centre - which provides advocacy and advisory services - useful.
Visit the Queensland Writers Centre. Read more...
Visit the Australian Society of Authors. Read more...
Visit the Australian Publishers Association. Read more...

Q: What's on for schools?
A: The Brisbane Writers Festival’s annual youth literature program, WordPlay, is especially for young readers, writers and illustrators. It is an action-packed literary experience for students from grades 4 – 12, right across Queensland. Online or upfront at the Festival site, more than 11,000 places are up for grabs as students come together to engage with their favourite authors, illustrators, scriptwriters and songwriters. Read more…

Q: Do you have authors who write for children and young adults speaking at the Festival?
A: Yes! We know there are many aspiring authors and illustrators of works for children and young adults who attend the Festival. We also know that people of all ages enjoy hearing from those very special authors who create for younger readers. Be sure to check the main program prior to the Festival to catch these sessions.

Q: What's the difference between the Brisbane Writers Festival and the Queensland Writers Centre?
A: The Brisbane Writers Festival is responsible for planning and administering a Festival of international standard for readers and writers to enjoy. The goal of Queensland Writers Centre is to provide support, training, professional networking and resources to its members, and to advocate on behalf of Queensland writers as a group.Read more…

Whilst the Festival maintains a professional relationship with the Queensland Writers Centre, it is not affiliated with the Centre, and it does not dispense advice or advocacy to writers. 

Q: Does the Festival run events throughout the year?
A. The Festival holds or is involved with several exciting events throughout the year, such as book launches, author talks, and workshops. For details check the Festival website regularly, or sign up to our e-news. Read more…

Volunteers

Q: Can I volunteer with the Festival?
A: Absolutely! Volunteers are a critical and valued part of the Brisbane Writers Festival. Each year approximately 150 enthusiastic and reliable volunteers are recruited to a wide range of positions crucial to ensuring the success of Queensland's premier literary event. Volunteer roles include information booth staff, green room managers and assistants, venue managers, and ushers. There are also opportunities to work in the office in the lead up to the Festival on a range of tasks and projects. Read more...

Q: Do I need to have previous experience to volunteer with the Brisbane Writers Festival?
A: While some positions such as Production Assistants and the Marketing Coordinator do require specific skills and experience, our general Festival volunteers do not need to have any previous volunteer experience - we only require a passion for reading and for the arts, combined with lots of enthusiasm!

Q: I am interested in volunteering - what can I do as a volunteer?
A: There are a variety of volunteer roles available either in the office in the lead up to the Festival or at the Festival itself. Sign up to our e-news by filling out the on line form on the Festival website, and keep an eye on the website generally for more developments!

Q: Is there a minimum commitment of hours required to volunteer with the Brisbane Writers Festival?
A: Yes, the minimum commitment is one shift, either a morning, afternoon or evening. The shift is approximately 5 – 6 hours in length depending on the nature of the volunteer role at the Festival. Please note that some volunteer roles, such as production assistants will have different time requirements in terms of shift lengths, training and tasks being performed.

Q: Can children (under 18 years) volunteer for the Brisbane Writers Festival?
A: No, unfortunately not.

Q: Do I get free tickets in exchange for my volunteer hours with the Brisbane Writers Festival?
A: Every volunteer program is unique in terms of the benefits they offer to their volunteers. A large percentage of our events in 2008 Festival were free. Last year, our volunteers received a complimentary T-shirt and a fantastic thank you party at the Festival's end.

Q: What are the steps required to become a BWF volunteer?
A: The first step to volunteering with BWF is to fill out our volunteer application form available on the website. It should take approximately ten minutes to complete the application, and you will be contacted shortly after.

Q: How can I learn more about BWF and volunteer opportunities?
A: A month or two before the Festival, we will hold an information session for those interested in volunteering and who would like to learn more about the organisation. Attendance at these sessions is not a pre-requisite to becoming a BWF volunteer. The session should last approximately one hour with refreshments served afterwards.

Q: Do I need to attend training?
A: Yes, general training and on-site orientation at the State Library of Queensland is conducted late August/early September before the beginning of the Festival.

Q: Do I need to provide any documentation?
A: You will need to provide 100 points of ID, references and documents to support your skills/experience during your interview with the Volunteers Coordinator.

Q: How can I renew my Blue Card?
A: Renewing your Blue Card is easy. Read more…
Once you have renewed your Blue Card, contact us for an interview appointment and be sure to bring your Blue Card form and ID with you.




For young readers, writers and illustrators. Grades 4-10

 

 

The Brisbane Writers Festival acknowledges the assistance of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Department of Education and Training, and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.