Update, 5.15pm:
NEW events will come to Bendigo as part of a new winter festival in Melbourne.
The first winter festival will take place in from August 20 to September 6, 2020.
The new festival will seek to develop collaborative relationships with other festivals and events, especially those that occur in winter.
Earlier:
A CLASH between writers festivals has forced the Bendigo event to be moved, after being held for eight years on the same weekend in August.
The next full festival will not be until May, 2021.
The change comes after what the Bendigo Advertiser understands was a clash with another Victorian writers festival in August 2020.
Read more: Buzz building for Bendigo Writers Festival
Festival director Rosemary Sorensen said there were big changes to the August cultural calendar about to occur in Melbourne.
The Bendigo Advertiser approached the City of Greater Bendigo in early August about a possible change to the date forced on the festival because of another event.
On August 13 the city replied that it would undertake an annual review of the 2019 Bendigo Writers Festival, including consideration of future dates.
Manager of Capital Venues and Events David Lloyd told the Bendigo Advertiser:
"The City is about to undertake its annual review of the 2019 Bendigo Writers Festival. As part of the review, and in light of the City's ever-expanding arts and cultural events calendar, consideration will be given to future dates for the festival."
"Further, given the number of Melbourne, interstate and international visitors the Bendigo Writers Festival now attracts, organisers feel the event is an important part of the Victorian events calendar," Mr Lloyd said.
"Once stakeholders have been consulted and the review is completed, an announcement will be made in relation to the timing of this important event's scheduling in 2020 and beyond, for Bendigo and Victoria."
OTHER NEWS:
Sixteen days later the city announced a date change for the festival, which will not be held in full in 2020.
The city said a "boutique festival" would run in early May 2020, as a transition to the new autumn scheduling.
Ms Sorensen said the move to May 2021 was a great decision.
Mr Lloyd said the city had plans to make the Bendigo Writers festival even bigger and better, after a resounding success this year.
"Our review looked at many factors and changing the Bendigo Writers Festival to May was a perfect option in the literary events calendar with both Sydney and Auckland events scheduled around the same time," Mr Lloyd said.
"This will give us the opportunity to look at potential collaboration, such as securing international authors."
The Bendigo Writers Festival attracted 5700 visitors in 2019, with a 30 per cent increase in box office sales.
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
