Blak and Bright is back

Blak and Bright, Melbourne’s biannual First Nations literature festival, is returning 13-17 March. The festival seeks to empower and celebrate First Nations writers and storytellers with an almost entirely free program.

The festival spans five days, programming over 30 events and 80 First Nations artists of diverse backgrounds and genres. It will take over some of the city’s most iconic venues, including The
Wheeler Centre, Federation Square, State Library of Victoria and The Capitol, with many events livestreamed online.

This year marks the Festival’s fourth chapter since its inception in 2016 and its biggest iteration yet.
Blak and Bright will showcase the multifaceted expressions of First Nations writers with a program ranging from songs to essays, oral stories to epic novels and plays to poetry.

The 2024 theme, ‘Blak Futures Now’, emphasises the urgency and contemporary relevance of Indigenous voices in literature. It’s a powerful call to action to recognise and elevate the stories, experiences and perspectives of First Nations people.