All write on the night

WRITING is a craft that can be overlooked as a ‘performance’ piece – hence a move by the Yarra Valley Arts Council to host a Writers’ Night in Healesville.
YVAC president Karen Meuleman said the first Writers’ Night at Cheese Freaks Cafe would provide local writers with an opportunity to read their work, and for those who enjoy the written word to meet local writers and hear their work.
Published Toolangi writer Jenny Overend teaches writing in the valley and the night will include readings by Ms Overend and her students.
“It will give them the opportunity to present their work to a broader audience and that’s something the arts council believes is important,” Ms Meuleman said.
“It’s not something we see a lot of; that aspect of the arts has been forgotten a little bit,” she said.
Having seen successful festivals in other Maroondah and Melbourne Ms Meuleman said the YVAC wanted to encourage writers to come out and present their work in the Yarra Valley.
“We have quite a lot of people who write up here and we thought it is a shame we don’t have a forum for their work.”
The first Writers’ Night will be held at Cheese Freaks in Green Street on Friday night, 17 July.
Inexpensive, home-cooked food, wine and coffee will be available.
Bookings are essential for prospective writers/readers and for dinner.
Entry is by gold-coin donation. Contact Ms Meuleman on 0409 410 907.