Exodus of Board Members and Staff Raises Questions about Future of Melbourne Writers Festival

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Melbourne Writers Festival,Board Members,Staff

The Melbourne Writers Festival is facing uncertainty as several board members and administrative staff have resigned just weeks before this year's program. The festival, which is financially smaller compared to literary festivals in Sydney and Adelaide, is now questioning its future shape and viability. The recent resignations include the chair, Alice Hill, and deputy chairman, Dr Leslie Reti, who left due to anti-Israel material in this year's program. Additionally, staff members, including the development manager and chief executive, have also left the organization.

Let’s cross to some news in the arts sector. An exodus of board members and administrative staff from the Melbourne Writers Festival just weeks out from this year’s program has raised questions about the future shape and viability of the event, which is financially dwarfed by literary festivals in Sydney and Adelaide .The Melbourne Writers Festival confirmed that its chair for the past year, US-born governance and strategy expert Alice Hill , quit the organisation last month.

The departure of the two most senior board members coincides with an exit of staff, with development manager Alice Fitzgerald finishing work last week, a month after chief executive Fiona Menzies quit. They are expected to be joined by head of marketing Emma Walsh, who has tendered her resignation, and artistic director Michaela McGuire, who has announced that this will be her final year in charge of the festival program.

Melbourne Writers Festival Board Members Staff Resignation Uncertainty Literary Festivals Sydney Adelaide Alice Hill Leslie Reti Anti-Israel Material Program

 

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