Storyfest - Annual Report 2024 by Storyfest

CHAIR’S REPORT

In 2024, Storyfest continued building upon our reputation as Australia’s premier youth literature festival. Across 260 individual events throughout Queensland, we attracted 25,913 attendees and impacted 117 local and regional schools. We sold 22,368 tickets for our Storyfest Gold Coast, engaging 14,140 unique attendees through our various author sessions, workshops and functions. We were proud to provide our local community with nearly 4,000 books, staying true to our mission to share stories, build better lives.

This year, we continued to share our love for books and literacy with regional communities. In 2024, we successfully launched Storyfest South West in St George and Storyfest Central Queensland in Emerald, to complete our Regional Tour alongside Storyfest Out West in Longreach. This tour allowed us to reach over 4,000 attendees and 40 schools in just three weeks. Rarely are children in the outback offered the chance to interact with their favourite authors. We were thrilled to provide equitable opportunities through our current outreach programme and have begun preparations to engage with the Sunshine Coast community in 2025.

Our successes this year would not have been possible without those who support Storyfest through donations, sponsorships and in-kind gifts. Their dedication to our cause and endless generosity have been instrumental to our growth across local and regional events. Along with our benefactors, Storyfest thrives because of the passion of our many volunteers. We cannot express our gratitude enough to all the individuals who contribute to our organisation, giving up their time and energy to help us deliver unforgettable storytelling experiences.

I would like to thank the unwavering commitment and willingness to go beyond the expected, of our Storyfest team, led by CEO Andrea Lewis and comprising Tayla Haynes, Gabriella Lennon and Emma Monaghan. The ability to deliver

transformative experiences to thousands of individuals across the state, let alone with such a small team, is more than impressive. In 2025, the team is set to expand by nearly double—I am certain the whole community is eager to see what more Storyfest will accomplish with extra hands on board.

The Storyfest team goes beyond staff, and it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge our Ambassadors; Karen Berkman, Graeme Gardiner, Louise Davidson, Gail Parr, Cecilia Robertson and Dr Michael Brohier, who also led the festival as both Chair and Artistic Direct for more than 13 years. A special thank you to our First Nations Artistic Director Lann Levigne, who helps us provide creative platforms for First Nations artists, performers and voices.

I also extend my thanks to the Storyfest Board: Deputy Chair Alex Woodthorpe, and Directors Michael Arnold, Craig Bassingthwaighte, Megan Daley Caroline Graham, Terry Herbert and Sara Kirby. Their time and expertise have been essential to Storyfest’s growth this year. I also show gratitude to our CFO Kylie Sherrington for her steadfast support and management of our finances, and to Jacqueline Harvey, our extraordinary Patron. We are lucky to have all of you.

Storyfest ended 2024 with a significant revenue growth of 31.8% on the previous year. Our diversified revenue model and healthy fiscal position gives us a positive outlook for the coming year. We plan to continue delivering opportunities that enrich the lives of young people and inspire their passion for literature.

Owing to a wonderful and impactful past year, we warmly invite you to join us on our journey into 2025. We plan to continue delivering exceptional storytelling experiences here on the Gold Coast, and across wider Queensland.

To enhance the lives of young people through transformative storytelling experiences OUR VISION

To deliver unforgettable storytelling festivals and programmes for young people, stimulating curiosity, creativity and empathy OUR MISSION

$1,408,140 2024 ANNUAL TURN OVER 31%

INCREASE IN ANNUAL TURN OVER FROM 2023-2024

243%

INCREASE IN GRANTS REVENUE FROM 2023-2024

2024

STORYFEST GOLD COAST

BUSINESS LUNCH

GOLF DAY

SIGNATURE EVENTS

STORYFEST SOUTH WEST

STORYFEST OUT WEST

STORYFEST CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

DONATION INCOME

GRANTS

SPONSORSHIP

INTEREST

CONTRIBUTION FROM SOMERSET COLLEGE

2023

STORYFEST GOLD COAST

BUSINESS LUNCH

GOLF DAY

SIGNATURE EVENTS

STORYFEST OUT WEST

DONATION INCOME

GRANTS

SPONSORSHIP

INTEREST

CONTRIBUTION FROM SOMERSET COLLEGE

2022

STORYFEST GOLD COAST

HOTA READS

BUSINESS LUNCH

GOLF DAY

SIGNATURE EVENTS

STORYFEST OUT WEST

SOIREE

DONATION INCOME

GRANTS

SPONSORSHIP

INTEREST

REVENUE $1,408,140 $1,067,808 $902,550

In 2024 we engaged 24 First Nations Artists and Storytellers under the guidance of our First Nations Artistic Director, Lann Levinge.

8,215 books given to our local communities across Queensland

264

NUMBER OF EVENTS

117

SCHOOLS IMPACTED

26,170 PEOPLE IMPACTED

Delivering a series of literary experiences along with workshops, masterclasses and featured authors throughout the year, Storyfest nurtures emerging writers and provides opportunities for readers and writers alike.

280 $69,920

$32,260

271 5,319 $138,069 2

FIRST NATIONS

For the purposes of this report, we have focussed specifically on schools located within the town borders of our regional activations. Further investigation will be undertaken to incorporate surrounding areas located in the respective Shires giving more accurate data of the impact of our Festivals to not only our First Nations’ students but all children in these areas.

488 ATTENDEES

48.5%

WERE FIRST NATIONS

On the Gold Coast, after many years of building a rapport with local community, Lann Lavinge was appointed our First Nations Artistic Director. Lann programmes First Nations’ storytellers into our line up and in 2024, we engaged 15 storytellers. Each year attendance at these sessions are popular with the majority sold out.

LONGREACH

17.5% 645 ATTENDEES

WERE FIRST NATIONS

In Emerald - Central Queensland, we have a specific focus on the Emerald North State Primary School whose cohort has 31% indigenous students enrolled, the highest percentage within this region. It should also be noted, that Emerald North also has the highest percentage of English as a Second Language, thus the focus to offer additional support to this school.

In all of our regional areas, we strive to connect and bring an awareness to local first nation storytellers. We are respectful and mindful of cultural ways and as we enter into our second year in these regions, we will utilise our connections to meet with and begin engaging with elders to discover ways in which they may share their stories with all children at our festival.

In St. George, in our inaugural year, we were able to engage

YOUNG LOCAL STORYTELLERS

for a performance at the Festival, an initial step in connecting with local community in this area.

4,834 ATTENDEES

12.1%

WERE FIRST NATIONS

Storyfest is an organisation which embraces the learnings from our indigenous communities and continually look for ways to incorporate programmes into our activations.

ATTENDANCE

STORYFEST GOLD COAST

TICKETS SOLD

22,368

STORYFEST SOUTH WEST

TICKETS SOLD

ATTENDEES

STORYFEST OUT WEST

TICKETS SOLD

ATTENDEES

STORYFEST CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

TICKETS SOLD

2,660 2,229 1,122

ATTENDEES

1,737 1,281

DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA

Digital and social media allows us to connect and engage with potential customers, with a strong media strategy and the ability to create engaging content, we can successfully engage with our audiences.

51,593

24,520

31,868

2,970

2,296 FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS 262 507

MEET BRODY

“When I called them up, I asked them if they could bring a storybox to me, and it came today. They gave me some books and I love reading out of it. I’m going to read lots of books from it.”

LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

6 36 34 60

We’re constantly inspired by our community of passionate supporters, volunteers, sponsors and brand partners. They’re the reason why we are able to do what we do and are able to grow stronger than ever.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

SCHOOLS

We’re committed to delivering best practice in the areas of waste management and business sustainability through procurement and strategic waste minimalisation policies that support reuse and recycling systems.

92%

323.33KG OF WASTE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILL LESS TOTAL WASTE WEIGHT FROM 2023 TO 2024