Entertainment
5 February, 2025
Writer’s block
IN a blow to storytelling and literature, the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival has been cancelled this year due to funding shortages, but organisers aim to revive it stronger than ever in 2026.
Although the announcement has been received with sadness by local authors and book lovers, the festival’s director Jules Steer said she wanted to reiterate to the community that this was not the end.
“This is not a full stop, it’s a comma,” she said.
“To present a four-day, multi-tiered program, which gathers over 150 presenters and interviewers, the expense bill runs close to $100,000.
“The CTWF committee are working tirelessly to ensure that this very important and much-loved festival, which brings significant economic benefits to the region during the wet season, returns in 2026.
“We are excited to start planning the 2026 festival and are seeking service, product and financial support.
“All inquiries can be made through our social media pages, or email at program@ctwf.com.au”
Festival committee member Crystal Leonardi said, despite their best efforts, they couldn’t go ahead.
“Jules has made a really good work in pointing out that an event such as this needs a lot of funding behind it. It takes more than just a good committee,” she said.
“We need lots of funding, sponsors, people who are willing to volunteer and we need all these parts to come together to make a successful event and funding was one component that we just couldn’t get across the line this year.
“We were approved for a Cairns Regional Council grant and other grants, but we just couldn’t get enough income, and with the festival happening in March, we needed to have all of our ducks in a row by October 2024 to commence planning.
“We are all extremely passionate about bringing this festival to the region, and it’s important not just for authors, but for readers, for children and for anybody who’s interested in literature. So it was with a very heavy heart that we decided to make that call.
“Jules said it so beautifully. It’s not the end of the festival. It’s just a pause. We are 100 per cent looking forward to a really successful festival in 2026.”
Author of ‘The Teacher Who Lost Her Smile’ Bec Wright from Caravonica highlighted the importance of the festival for up-and-coming authors.
“Last year a friend mentioned CTWF and I thought I should take my book in.
“At the festival I met the publishers including Crystal Leonardi and she published my book, so now I’m an author,” she said.
Ms Wright said she was disappointed because the festival was the prefect platform for authors.
