https://storyartsfestival.com
StoryArts Festival Ipswich 1995 – 2024
The biennial Story Arts Festival Ipswich began as The Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature in 1995 providing FREE sessions for children and families.
The festival aims to increase an awareness of the value of the arts in relation to writing and illustration and help build and maintain increased audiences for children’s literature. We plan to inspire young people to buy and read more books and gain an appreciation of the processes involved in writing and illustrating. We also aim to enthuse teachers and parents about the value of stories and encourage them to promote literature to young people.
The festival is organized by the Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network. This program is supported by Ipswich Libraries and sponsored by Ipswich Festivals.
The festival will be officially opened on Sunday 4 August at the Ipswich Community Gallery, where there will be an exhibition of illustration by four festival illustrators alongside an exhibition of art created by local students in response to the Book Week theme Reading is Magic and the art of the four illustrators.
Family Program:
This year the festival is again offering a program catering for families after school Monday 5 August to Thursday 8 August plus a grand finale event on Saturday 17 August.
Meet authors, Do activities, Have fun!
Topics include Imaginary Friend Factory, How to Make a Comic, High Tea and A Story and a Song. The Finale event will be a Storytelling Concert. Attendance is free but bookings are essential as spaces are limited.
Bookings can be made online for all sessions at Ipswich Libraries. BOOK HERE: https://bit.ly/SAFAM24
Venue:
1 Nicholas Street, Level 1
Book Shops Children always get a great deal of pleasure in buying books and having them signed by the authors and illustrators they have met. A Lot of Books will be set up in the venue. It saves time if books are pre-ordered. http://alotofbooks.com.au/ Presenters
For information about the authors and illustrators go to: https://www.storyartsfestival.com/about/presenters/ Audience age
We have added a recommended age for attending sessions, but this is flexible. Feel free to book into what is most appealing to your family.
Supervision and Safety
It is advisable for carers to supervise children in sessions aimed at under 8 years.
StoryArts Festival Ipswich Family program 2024
Monday 5 August 2024
Imaginary Friend Factory with Matt Stanton
For some people, imaginary friends turn up whether you like it or not. For the rest of us, we create them ourselves. Come and join author/illustrator Matt Stanton for a fun afternoon creating your very own imaginary friend. Whether you like to write, draw or play with plasticine, Matt will lead you through the fun process of character creation and you'll leave with the best friend you could ever imagine!
Venue: 1 Nicholas Street, Level 1 from 4pm – 5pm Age: Primary School children
Tuesday 6 August 2024
Creating comics with – Remy Lai for young illustrators aged 8+ Join Remy Lai in this comic making workshop, from writing your story to designing your own characters.
Venue: 1 Nicholas Street, Level 1 from 4pm – 5pm
Wednesday 7 August 2024
High Tea with Jacqueline Harvey
Join bestselling author, Jacqueline Harvey for an afternoon high tea of cakes and conversation. Jacqueline will be telling stories and answering all your questions. Come and find out what inspired her stories which include AliceMiranda, Clementine Rose, Kensy and Max, Willa and Woof, That Cat, The Daring Tale of Gloria the Great and Kevin the Sheep. Menu will include bubble tea, sausage rolls, sandwiches, cake, watermelon. Provide any dietary requirements when booking.
Venue: 1 Nicholas Street, Level 1 from 4pm – 5pm
Age: Primary School children
Thursday 8 August 2024
A Story and a Song
Musical storytelling with Storyteller & author Tanya Batt and musician Peter Forster from planet Waiheke –a small but lovely rock off the eastern coast of Aotearoa, New Zealand. They love singing, riding their bicycles, planting trees and creating wonderful musical ‘story sandwiches’ – preferably all at the same time!
This session will be highly interactive, filled with movement, music and magic. www.imagined-worlds.net
“She is a spellbinder. In all my years of telling and listening to stories I have never heard anyone who can match Tanya Batt. Only a few story tellers can send shivers of joy up a child's spine. Tanya Batt is the best of those who can.”
Paul Jennings, Multi Award winning Australian Author
Venue: 1 Nicholas Street, Level 1 from 4pm – 5pm. Suits all ages.
Saturday 17 August 2024
Story Magic Concert
“… a story should be told eye to eye, mind to mind, heart to heart” Scottish Traveller proverb.
To celebrate the end of StoryArts Festival Ipswich and the start of Children’s Book Week, three of Queensland’s finest storytellers, Jenni Cargill-Strong, Sue Robin and Anne E Stewart will spend the day telling stories. They have over a hundred years of experience in the oral tradition, the art of storytelling between them.
They will do sessions throughout the day, on the half hour. Each session will be a mini concert with the three tellers mixing it up as they share stories. Family audiences will be enchanted and engaged with vivid tales of wonder and magic.
Venue: Ipswich Community Gallery, d’Arcy Doyle Place Sessions every half hour from 10:30 am. Last session 2:30 pm. Suits all ages.
Accommodation and Venue partner
This program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland
Sponsorship of Lucas Proudfoot & Friends
Supporters
Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network Inc, 43 John Street, Rosewood 4340 General enquiries: info@idtl.net.au | Booking enquiries: bookings@storyartsfestival.com