Prom Coast Seachange Festival

Throughout Prom Coast - Fish Creek, Foster, Toora, Welshpool

When?
April 24th to May 3rd, 2009

Where?
Beautiful Prom Coast:
Fish Creek, Foster, Toora,
Welshpool,
& surrounding
areas.

What is a Living Book Event?

The idea of living books came from an original concept developed by the Danish youth Non Government Organisation “Stop the Violence” in 2000 to counter racism and discrimination in their community. The original inspiration was: “Meet your own prejudice” – literally. The Living Library operated at large music festivals and invited people to be ‘books’ and sit down with a ‘reader’ who could ask questions about all aspects of their life – like where they come from, their family background, how they occupy their daily lives, how they see their society, things that might worry them or inspire them, and so on. It was very successful and since its inception the Living Library concept has been adapted and developed by other countries and organisations to suit their environment, budget and community needs.

There are now Living Libraries at Swinburne’s Prahran Library, Wellington Shire Library, Brisbane City Council libraries, Lismore Library and Gosford Library. There was also a Living Library in Sydneyl ast October, linked to Mental Health week.

The Seachange Festival Living Books Event will be held on the afternoon of Saturday April 25^th over 3 hours. Each ‘reader’ will be given 15 minutes to spend with the Living Books of their choice during the first hour and then there will be a break for refreshments. The last hour will be for ‘readers’ to spend time with other Living Books. So effectively there will be a chance for ‘readers’ to spend time with four Living Books in the first hour and four Living Books in the second hour.

At the time of the ‘reading’ the Living Books will only be asked to converse about their identified subject. At any point during the ‘reading’ the Living Book, or ‘reader’ can terminate the session. The Living Book has the option to not answer questions asked during any of the ‘reading’ times if that question ranges outside their identified subject.

Descriptions of each Living Book will be published prior to the event and can also be obtained from Foster’s Little Bookshop website www.fosterslittlebookshop.com.au. Potential ‘readers’ will be given plenty of opportunity to decide which Living Books they will ‘read’ during the event.

Titles:

An Immigrants Tale

A Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter

Waiting For The Enemy

In The Eye of A Firestorm

A Split Second And A New Life

The Divine Wind

Animals Are My World

Oh! To Be A Fisherman

Becoming

Pops ‘n Bangs n’ Buffed ‘n Puffed

Horses I Have Known And The Stories They’ve Told