QLF unveils new program director, 2024 plans

THE Queenscliff Literary Festival (QLF) committee has handed over the reins of the festival’s creative direction after announcing its new program director.

The committee has unveiled radio producer and presenter for more than 20 years, Elizabeth McCarthy, as Jane Finemore’s successor.

Ms McCarthy is no stranger to literature, having predominantly been at Melbourne’s 3RRR, where she anchored the flagship weekly books and writing show “Multi-Storied”.

She has also served as a board member at 3RRR and worked as a judge for Stella Prize and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, and presently hosts in-conversation literary events for The Wheeler Centre and Melbourne Writers Festival.

“I am thrilled to be appointed program director for QLF,” Ms McCarthy said.

“It is a unique, deeply engaging and vivacious festival that I have long admired for being passionately committed to storytelling and ideas, and for attracting outstanding storytellers for its books and arts-loving audiences to enjoy each year.

“I’m super excited about sharing new ideas with the Queenscliff community, and championing books we all love and raising the profiles talented young, new and established authors.”

The QLF will host its tenth festival next year in 2024, marking a milestone year for one of the state’s most unique festivals.

However, the committee has agreed to shift next year’s festival to a later timeslot and will reduce the festival from five weekends down to two in 2024.

The new QLF dates will be October 18-27 as part of the festival’s tenth year.

Ms McCarthy said the decision to move the festival’s dates comes as a result of multiple books and arts festivals taking place back-to-back during the first half of next year.

“With 2024 being QLF’s 10th anniversary, I’ll be creating festival events that commemorate this wonderful milestone, and also exploring new ways that storytelling and writing can be experienced and celebrated,” she said.

“I am deeply grateful to festival committee members for warmly welcoming me and for mapping out the future of QLF with such a clear vision.”

The QLF will open ticket sales on Wednesday, November 8 from 8am to two pop-up summer events taking place in January.

Feminist writer and commentator Clementine Ford in conversation about her new book I Don’t: The Case Against Marriage, at Queenscliff Town Hall on January 10.

Chef and author Jo Barrett – who was recently named as the 2023 Chef of the Year by the Good Food Guide – will also travel down the Bellarine to talk about her new book Sustain: Groundbreaking Recipes and Skills That Could Save the Planet, at 360Q on January 15.

For more information., head to queenscliffeliteraryfestival.com.au