#LitFest2444, scheduled for June this year, has adapted their content and delivery to make sure Port Macquarie's annual creative festival for high school students still goes ahead.
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The online festival is now open to anyone with sessions being delivered now until June 29. The festival has already had a lot of interest from all over Australia and as far as the UK.
"It is so exciting to see our audience expand, allowing people to develop creative skills in writing, podcasting and illustrating right from the comfort of their own home," organiser Suzanne Penson said.
"Creative writing is a compulsory module in the English curriculum for the HSC and a number of LitFest's online workshops will provide some inspiration and author secrets to help supplement their school course content."
Other storytelling genres such as podcasting and illustration will also be available between now and June 29.
Co-organisers Karen Bale and Suzanne Penson believe that for at least some students, #LitFest2444 may inspire a fulfilling creative career.
"Through #LitFest2444 we have the opportunity to show students that creative talents and skills can potentially lead to jobs or business opportunities," Karen Bale said.
"Many of our workshop presenters are entrepreneurs who developed skills in their teens and later turned them into businesses. They're making a living from something they're passionate about."
For Mrs Bale and Mrs Penson, teacher-librarians at St Joseph's Regional and MacKillop College, #LitFest2444 is a labour of literary love and one they were not willing to miss in 2020.
"The festival now in its fourth year has gone from strength to strength. Organisers, presenters and participants wanted the festival to go ahead in some kind of format, so we have adapted our delivery and now everyone can enjoy the live-streamed sessions and pre-recorded workshops for free via our Facebook profile," Mrs Penson said.
#Litfest2444 is also not only for high school students, many teachers have used the festival in the past for professional development and now even more people are able to do this online.
"We are grateful to the Diocese and our schools for allowing us to curate the event, our sponsors who support it and the presenters who have embraced the online sessions and new format."
Go to the #LitFest2444 Facebook Page to participate in the workshops. For more information go to www.litfest2444.com.au
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