New Director for Adelaide Writers' Week Says Books Are Key, Not Politics

By Stephanie Richards

Topic: Arts Festivals

Rosemarie Milsom is the new director of Adelaide Writers' Week.

In short:

Rosemarie Milsom will direct Adelaide Writers' Week for three years.

The new director thinks this year's festival problems were regrettable but trusts the event's legacy.

What's next?

Next year's Adelaide Writers' Week details will be out in late October.

The new director says authors' political views won't affect the lineup.

Rosemarie Milsom is the new director of Adelaide Writers' Week for three years.

This year's controversy was regrettable, but the event is much-loved and has a long history.

Randa Abdel-Fattah is welcome to return in 2027.

The invitation to Randa Abdel-Fattah still stands.

Rosemarie Milsom wanted to repair the damage and move on.

Adelaide Writers' Week is at the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden.

Louise Adler resigned as director after the festival board canceled Randa Abdel-Fattah's appearance.

The board's decision led to a writer boycott and the festival's cancellation.

Writers have different political views, but they should be able to express themselves.

The arts are affected by global events and political tensions.

Writers have views, and they are allowed to have them.

Authors will be chosen based on their work, not their personal views.

If Pauline Hanson wrote a great crime novel, Rosemarie Milsom would want to know.

The former festival board dis-invited Randa Abdel-Fattah.

Rosemarie Milsom feels confident about the new festival board.

She asked about curatorial independence when applying for the job.

The answer was yes.

This year's controversy does not define the event.

The event has a long legacy and is much-loved.

Rosemarie Milsom wants to help repair the damage.

Important lessons have been learned.

The director warns against discarding authors due to pressure.

The decision to axe Randa Abdel-Fattah was made after seeking advice from the premier.

The premier was concerned about the board's decision.

Emails show the reservations and fallout after the decision.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns criticized the Newcastle Writers' Festival.

Rosemarie Milsom faced pressure to remove authors from the festival.

The pressure comes from outside.

It's hard to deal with the pressure and backlash.

Discarding an artist due to pressure is a slippery slope.

Rosemarie Milsom says the Adelaide Writers' Week is much-loved.

Writers' festivals should promote freedom of expression.

The arts are a contested space with high tensions.

Rosemarie Milsom will focus on the core purpose and principles.

The director will seek a meeting with the SA premier.

Having relationships with the government is important.

The premier has learned a lesson about the festival.

Rosemarie Milsom is new to the role, and it's a reset.

Adelaide Writers' Week will return in 2027.

The new board has apologized to Randa Abdel-Fattah and invited her to speak.

Rosemarie Milsom welcomes the move and hopes Randa Abdel-Fattah will speak about her book.

The invitation is a gesture to move ahead in a positive direction.

Rosemarie Milsom will talk to Randa Abdel-Fattah about the invitation.

Rosemarie Milsom is stepping down as Newcastle Writers' Festival director.

She will start as Adelaide Writers' Week director in mid-May.

Programming details will be released from late October.

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