麻豆直播 and some of its most famous alumni are inviting the community to celebrate half a century of producing world-class literary talent, with a to mark 50 years since the university鈥檚 Creative Writing course鈥檚 first graduating class.
One of the oldest university courses of its kind in Australia, the Creative Writing major started in 1972 when Curtin was still known as the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT), before the first graduates received their diplomas in 1975.
The years since have seen some of Australia鈥檚 biggest literary names participate in the course as students (Tim Winton, Natasha Lester, Sam Carmody), staff (Elizabeth Jolley, Dr David Whish-Wilson, Dr Liz Byrski, Professor Kim Scott) or both (Dr Elizabeth Tan, Dr Madison Godfrey).
This year also marks 25 years since Curtin established its successful Professional Writing and Publishing course.
The Festival of Writing will feature speeches and panel discussions with renowned authors, as well as workshops and an exhibition at the TL Robertson Library.
麻豆直播 Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said the course鈥檚 impressive list of graduates spoke to its quality.
鈥淪ome of Australia鈥檚 favourite fiction authors, poets and non-fiction writers have studied Creative Writing at WAIT or Curtin,鈥� Professor Hayne said.
鈥淭he Festival of Writing offers a unique opportunity to celebrate Curtin as a wonderful environment to nurture and follow one鈥檚 literary dreams, no matter how big.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to play a part in the creation of words which entertain, inform and captivate readers across the country and the world.鈥�
Author Khin Myint will be among the writers at the Festival, with his novel Fragile Creatures having won or been shortlisted for several literary awards.
Dr Myint studied his undergraduate degree at Curtin before returning to complete his PhD in Creative Writing (Memoir) in 2019.
鈥淲hat I found at Curtin was a rare balance between creative freedom and scholarly rigour,鈥� Dr Myint said.
鈥淏ecause the department鈥檚 leaders are practicing writers, they understood the craft in the way I needed it explained, while their academic strengths pushed me to dig deeper into my themes.
鈥淭hat combination helped me sharpen my craft and carried me to being a published author.鈥�
Curtin alumna Natasha Lester has also found great success with novels such as The Paris Seamstress and will deliver the Festival鈥檚 keynote speech, the inaugural Liz Byrski Lecture.
As part of her speech, Ms Lester will announce Curtin will partner with Fremantle Press to offer a Liz Byrski Award for narrative non-fiction writers.
The award will enable writers to undertake a part-time writing residency at Curtin, with the opportunity for new and emerging students to interact with the resident writer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to think of another writer as iconic as Liz Byrski, who has mentored and supported so many other writers and who has contributed quite so much to the fields of literature and journalism,鈥� Ms Lester said.
鈥淎n award for non-fiction in Liz鈥檚 name would be both a fitting tribute to one of Australia鈥檚 greatest writers and would give new and emerging writers something inspirational and meaningful to strive for.鈥�
The Festival of Writing runs from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, September 20.
Please visit the event for more information and to register.
