Oz, NZ festival of literature and arts line-up announced

The first line-up for the Australian and New Zealand Festival of Literature and Arts in London has been announced.

Kate Grenville, Steve Toltz, Alan Duff, Howard Jacobson, Omar Musa, Dylan Horrocks, Tony Birch, Tara Jane Winch and Pat Lowe are among the writers and artists who will speak at the festival, to be held at King’s College from 28-31 May.

The festival will feature more than 60 events, including an examination of 21st-century Australian and New Zealand poetry, a spoken word debate and performance, and a discussion of the Australian and New Zealand comic scene.

A number of events will also be held with partners across London in the lead-up to the festival. Peter Carey will speak at the Bloomsbury Theatre on 19 May, Melissa Lucashenko will deliver a keynote lecture for the British Museum on the subject ‘Black, White and Brindle: Aboriginality in the Age of Unreason’ on 22 May, and four Australian and New Zealand documentary and feature films will screen at Hackney Picturehouse on 23-24 May.

The full program will be revealed on 5 March. For more information, visit the website here.