Welcome to the 15th Somerset Celebration of Literature.  Over the years, the Somerset Festival has grown into one of Australia’s most enduring and innovative literary festivals.  The four aspects to the Somerset Festival are the National Novella Writing Competition, the Queensland Poetry Competition, the Librarians’ Conference and the Writers’ Festival.  Each contributes a unique entity to give rise to a truly literary occasion.  The 2008 Festival offers a fascinating blend of fiction writers, biographers, poets, journalists, illustrators and artists.

Somerset College is very much aware of the need to bring the benefits of the Festival to those who may not have the opportunity to attend and as such, we have created the “Sponsored Schools Project” where parents of Somerset generously pay $500 each to bring groups of primary age school children from a range of schools on the Gold Coast and from Northern New South Wales to hear the writers at the Festival.  In 2008, the number of schools attending under this project will rise to 28.  This project, combined with the National Novella Writing Competition and the Queensland Poetry Competition are concrete ways of contributing to building and consolidating a resilient literary culture in Australia.

On behalf of the Somerset Celebration of Literature organising committee, I would like to invite you to join us in a celebration of culture and fun over the five days of the Festival from 10th to the 14th March 2008

Michael Brohier
Chairperson – Somerset Celebration of Literature

For information or bookings Phone Events Office on 07 5530 3777 / 07 5530 4624 or   Fax 07 5525 2676   or   email events@somerset.qld.edu.au