It’s one of the world’s largest literary festivals, attracting hundreds of acclaimed writers and thinkers from around the globe. And this year, many of those voices will have a distinct Macquarie flavour.

As a major sponsor of the 2016 Sydney Writers’ Festival, Macquarie University will be highly visible at the city’s premier arts event, being held from 16-22 May.

Faculty of Arts staff will be amongst the 450 Australian and international speakers this year, participating in several of the events throughout the Festival. The University is also the main sponsor of the YA (Young Adult) events on 22 May.

“This Sydney Writers’ Festival is a signature event in the city and offers academics and other participants the opportunity to engage with the broader community and show us alternative models for showcasing our research and communication skills,” says Associate Professor Michelle Arrow from the Department of Modern History, who will chair a panel with two writers aiming to challenge fundamental assumptions about the past.

Dr Victoria Flanagan, convenor of Macquarie’s Master of Children’s Literature program, will chair one of the YA events, “Is This Just a Fantasy?” During the session, four leading YA authors will discuss why fantasy and dystopian literature are the most popular genres in Young Adult literature right now.

Other Macquarie speakers include:

• Dr Jane Messer from the Department of English, who will join other fiction writers on the “Finance and Fiction” panel to discuss her new book, Hopscotch, and deliver a workshop offering participants insight into how to write creatively
• Dr Katharine Rossmanith and Associate Professor Peter Doyle from the Department of Media, Music, Communication and Cultural Studies who will speak at the “Forensics in Art and Literature” event
• Randa Abdel Fattah will join a conversation as part of the “Suad Amiry: Revisiting Home – Palestinian Stories” event.

“It’s really important for Macquarie to be involved in festivals like this because they create a strategic partnership between us as educators and the local, national and global arts communities,” says Flanagan. “These festivals are about supporting local talent and engaging in a broader conversation about the arts on a global scale.”

Mischa Parkee, third year Arts student (Majoring in English), has taken up a coveted internship position with the Festival, an opportunity made possible through Macquarie’s sponsorship.

“I am most looking forward to the actual week of the Festival,” Parkee says. “Seeing everything that I’ve been helping to achieve actually come to fruition will be a very gratifying experience.”

Learn more about the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Macquarie staff and students receive a discount when booking paid events, using the discount code SPONS16MU.