Melbourne City of Literature have announced the list of delegates for their International Literary Programmers Roundtable.
It's a mix of literary professionals from the Creative Cities Network, including three with Edinburgh backgrounds. Delegates will connect, exchange best-practice ideas, engage with the local literary landscape and enjoy Melbourne as a City of Literature.
Beth Cochrane
Beth Cochrane from Edinburgh used to be Program Manager for Push the Boat Out Festival before leaving to join the Bradford Literature Festival team.
'I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of this Roundtable programme! Pre-covid, when I was managing the events programme at the Scottish Poetry Library, I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with a delegation of visiting Melbourne literary professionals. It's a joy to have the opportunity to revisit those relationships and make a reciprocal visit, this time sharing not just the brilliance of Edinburgh as my UNESCO city, but Bradford too.'
'I am thrilled to be part of the International Literary Programmers Roundtable this year in Melbourne. Listening to others in the field, inviting discourse, and sharing our experiences are all central to what we do to make our events as inclusive and exciting as possible, and I look forward to insightful discussions with everyone attending!’
Rachel Fox
Rachel Fox is the current Children and Schools Programme Director for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, after leaving the Southbank Centre.
Ann Landmann
Ann Landmann is Festival Director for Cymera, Edinburgh's Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror-writing festival.
'While Cymera is groundbreaking in its focus, we are always interested in pushing our boundaries even further. Running a small festival on a tight budget can feel isolating and a bit intimidating. I look forward to conversations with my peers about innovative approaches, potential collaborations, and best practices. It’ll be inspiring to hear about writers whose work may not have reached the UK yet, and who might be welcome additions to the festival family.'
Here at Edinburgh City of Literature we are delighted that professionals working in literature across Edinburgh and Scotland have – through our Cities of Literature network – access to programmes like the Melbourne International Literary Programmers Roundtable. It’s a fantastic opportunity for professional development. We wish Beth, Rachel and Ann safe travels and trust they will discover fresh, bold and innovative programming ideas during their time away.
If you work in literature and would like to find out more about worldwide opportunities through our network read our resource on working internationally.
