Touring Program
The Asialink Literature Touring Program showcases Australian books and writers to hugely diverse audiences throughout the Asian region. Previous tours have featured 2-3 high profile Australian authors and an exhibition of Australian books. Each tour has coincided with a major cultural or industry event in the target country such as a festival, conference or book fair. The authors participate in book signings, readings, talks and media interviews, visit schools and universities and meet with key contacts in government, publishing, education and the arts.
The Touring Program is currently focussing on Korea. In November 2009 Asialink sent a delegation of Australian writing experts to Seoul and Paju Bookcity to meet their peers, build networks, and scope future tours, collaborations and exchanges.
Steve Grimwade (Director, Melbourne Writers' Festival), David Prater (poet, Editor of Cordite Poetry Journal and 2009 Asialink resident in Korea), Zoe Rodriguez (Manager of the Cultural Fund, CAL), and Nicolas Low (Manager, Asialink Literature Program) met with publishers, authors, and literary and digital media organisations ahead of the 2011 Australia - Korea Year of Friendship.
Asialink also facilitated the participation of an Australian digital publishing expert, Kate Eltham from the QWC and new Institute for the Future of the Book, in the 2009 Paju Bookcity International Publishing Forum.
These programs are part of a wider Asialink Arts initiative, with the support of the Australia-Korea Foundation, to build closer ties between Australia and Korea in the arts.
For more information contact:
Writing Programn.low@asialink.unimelb.edu.au