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Look what’s happening in Victoria!

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The Victorian Fairy Tale Ring has forthcoming events, to which you are all invited.

1. May 28, 2pm: Our free fairytale event at the quaint & historic Athenaeum Library, 188 Collins St, Melbourne.

Logo of the Melbourne Atheneum Library with building silhouette and subtext The Pleasure of Words beside an image of a pile of books in front of 4 women in front of filled bookshelves.

Add some much-needed magic to your life!

Why are fairy tales still so fascinating? What is a fairy tale? Are there Australian fairy tales? Come to the Athenaeum Library at 2pm on Saturday 28 May 2022 to hear Carmel Bird and the other writers and illustrators of South of the Sun – Australian Fairy Tales for the 21st Century discuss this and other questions.

South of the Sun is an enchanting, illustrated book of fairy tales, but not the kind you read to children at bedtime. They are strictly for the grown-ups. There are dark stories where things don’t end happily ever after, tales to make you laugh out loud, stories of sweet revenge and scenes of sheer delight in the world of magic and the fey.  

There will be magical music, readings, book sales and free refreshments, too!

Bookings essential. Contact library@melbourneathenaeum.org.au or phone 9650 3100.

2. June 23-30, Bendigo Library: Winter Solstice Celebration: Love of the Fey.

Modern building lit up by old fashioned street light and other glowing lights.

A week-long exhibition of Lorena Carrington’s illustrations bumps in on Thurs June 23rd and will culminate in two sessions of Louisa John-Krol’s storytelling and music on June 30th.

June 30th includes guests for South of the Sun readings, informal author chat, face-painting, costume prizes, signings & sales. 

  •          The 2pm session will probably be for ages 8 – 12, by library’s request, and
  •          The 5.30pm session is for grown-ups with dress-up theme, which is likely to have gothic, psychedelic, steampunk, pre-Raphaelite, cross-dressing and other flamboyant elements. All genders welcome.

2022 Conference – Call for Presentations

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AUSTRALIAN FAIRY TALES: FLESH OR FOSSIL?

October 1-2, 2022 at Brisbane’s South Bank precinct

The Australian Fairy Tale Society investigates and creates fairy tales from an Australian perspective. Local Fairy Tale Rings gather in person and via Zoom to explore specific fairy tales. We have mined rich themes at previous conferences, and celebrate members’ talents through our eZine and a new anthology, ‘South of the Sun: Australian Fairy Tales for the 21st Century’.

Invitation

As always our focus is on the Australian interpretation of fairy tales, particularly contemporary multicultural, diverse Australia. As AFTS Conference-goers delight in diversity, we are looking for –

  • Talks of no more than 25 minutes, including Q&A
  • Case studies of projects, with a fairy tale basis
  • Performances of no more than 10 minutes, with an option for 5 minutes’ Q&A
  • Panel discussions of no more than 25 minutes, including Q&A
  • Stalls to sell your merchandise.

Feel free to contact us with a new idea. We want to celebrate your creativity not stifle it!

Proposals

By midnight May 6, 2022, please submit your proposal using the online form. This will include –

  • Name/s
  • Email address and phone
  • Bio (max 150 words)
  • Type of presentation (as above)
  • Title / Topic, plus a 100-200 word description
  • Your experience in delivering this material or something similar
  • Resources … a) that you will provide, b) that the AFTS needs to supply.

What happens next

If your presentation is accepted for the conference, we will ask you to provide –

  • A colour photograph in high resolution, preferably a close-up of your face, for the program
  • A two-paragraph introduction which can be used by the MC
  • Permission to video-record your presentation for later access by AFTS members. (This will be subject to grant funding.)
  • Permission to use the material you have given us, including your photograph, in any conference promotions. If this includes media interviews, we will discuss this with you first.
  • Permission to use elements from your presentation (e.g. photos, summaries, links to your publications) in future AFTS publications, such as the eZine. We will discuss these needs as they arise.

We intend to respond to your submissions by the end of June, in order to announce the program in July 2022.

Benefits

  • The joy of sharing your fairy tale passion with like-minded enthusiasts.
  • A discount to the conference, and a gift of an annual membership. You will need to complete forms for both of these.

Want updates?

Sign up to receive the latest 2022 Conference news. (This feature is coming soon.)

Website graphic design

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Devahuti Rai Chaliha sits on a sofa smiling and holding a mug. Behind her is an Indian statue.
Devahuti Rai Chaliha, “Debs”

Sharp-eyed visitors will have seen our beautiful new header, and gallery images on the Activities and Shop pages linking us to where we want to go.

Who is responsible for these beautiful images? Devahuti Rai Chaliha, PhD student by day, AFTS volunteer by night.

Thank you, Debs!

South of the Sun Castlemaine library launch

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Celebrate the launch of this groundbreaking anthology with Carmel Bird, Cate Kennedy and Sarah Hart, in a panel chaired by Lorena Carrington, as they discuss fairy tales for grown-ups in contemporary Australia.

Date and time

Sat., 3 July 2021

10:00 am – 11:00 am AEST

Location

Castlemaine Library

212 Barker Street

Castlemaine, VIC 3450

BOOK HERE

Goldfields Libraries officer Hayley West, authors Carmel Bird and Cate Kennedy and illustrator Lorena Carrington are looking forward to the July 3 event.

Read the Fairytales for Grownups article in the Midland express here