The deputy chairman of the Melbourne Writers Festival has quit over what he says is “historically untrue and deeply offensive” material in this year’s program.
The war in Gaza has split the Melbourne Writers Festival, with the organisation’s chief executive and deputy chairman quitting over the promotion of an anti-Israel line at this year’s event.
The program claims in part: “Aboriginal and Palestinian solidarity has a long history, a relationship that is more vital than ever in the movement to resist colonialism and speak out against atrocities.
The organisation’s interim chief executive, Fiona Menzies, has also stood down from her role, having agreed to take on the vacant post in December. McGuire said the session at the centre of the internal ructions was curated by Mykaela Saunders, a writer with Koori and Lebanese heritage. Under McGuire’s approach since joining the festival, First Nations writers are invited and given broad licence to program sessions that cover Indigenous culture, history and themes.
“I completely support the right to self-determined programming, and this beautiful event is going to be a highlight of a festival of more than 50 events featuring 100 authors,” McGuire said. The program is embargoed until March 21. Menzies worked for a decade as chief executive of Creative Partnerships Australia, a federal government agency responsible for managing private donations to the arts. She is also a board member of the TarraWarra Museum of Art, which was established by the Besen family.
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