A free two-day festival encouraging writers and readers to start new conversations about story and truth will kick off next month.
Context Writers Festival is an initiative of the City of Adelaide, curated by Writers SA, that brings high-profile and emerging writers to celebrate words in all their forms, whether it be poetry, screenwriting or music.
Now in its fifth year, this year's event will run from April 12 to 13 across the Adelaide City Library in Rundle Place and the Minor Works Building Community Centre on Stamford Court.
A Sister City poet exchange in partnership with Word Christchurch literary festival is a key feature of the 2025 program.
Māori poet, musician, teacher, and poet Isla Huia, who lives in Adelaide's sister city of Ōtautahi (Christchurch), will take part in the exchange.
Isla's involvement will strengthen cultural ties between Adelaide and Christchurch and bring a unique international and First Nations perspective to this year's festival.
Co-founders of the South Australia's newest publishing house Pink Shorts Press, Margot Lloyd and Emily Hart; LIMINAL editor Cher Tan; award-winning writer Lyn Dickens; science writer Lauren Fuge, and Stone Sky Gold Mountain author Mirandi Riwoe round out this year's lineup.
Since its inception, Context has carved out a place in Australia as a new type of literary festival for writers and readers of all kinds.
It is an accessible, interdisciplinary, participatory two-day event, with a dynamic gathering of diverse emerging and high-profile writers.
Context Writers Festival guest curator, Justina Ashman said: "In designing this program, I was focused on the sense of connection that writing festivals give us, not only the connections between author and audience but also the connections between different creative practices, and more broadly, between art and creativity and the wider world around us.
"This program highlights the diverse and interdisciplinary nature of being a creative writer today. Our panels bring together emerging and established writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, theatre and film, sparking a dialogue that crosses the divide between traditionally separated writing practices.
"I hope our audiences come away feeling enriched by the conversations at this year's festival, and that they feel inspired to go out and write new stories, experience new art, and form new connections."
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said the festival underscored the importance of Sister City relationships in fostering cultural opportunities between international locales.
"It's fabulous that Adelaide has a network of sister cities who want to share their cultural knowledge with us through words, stories and conversations," said the Lord Mayor.
"Context Writer's Festival is a truly unique event that bolsters our city's reputation for arts and cultural experiences, and I encourage everyone to join in, share ideas, and get writing."
Context is accessible to all audiences and free to attend. Registrations are essential via the Writers SA or Adelaide City Libraries websites. It is also a green event, with minimal printed materials and located in venues along public transport routes.
