Bendigo Writers Festival council report recommends one-year hiatus amid reputational damage
The Bendigo Writers Festival was one of the regional city's key tourism events. (ABC News)
In short:
Council officers have recommended the Bendigo Writers Festival be called off next year to better plan future events.
More than 50 authors boycotted this year's event after participants were asked to sign a code of conduct.
What's next?
City of Greater Bendigo council will vote on the recommendations at its next meeting on Monday.
A Bendigo council review of its ill-fated 2025 Writers Festival has recommended a one-year hiatus before returning in 2027 with additional funding and a consideration of the influence sponsors and partners play in decision-making.
The review recommended not pursuing the festival next year due to "reputational damage incurred in 2025", among other reasons.
More than 50 authors boycotted the event in August, resulting in the cancellation of its opening and closing ceremonies after the council asked participants to adhere to a code of conduct just days before the festival's launch.
The code, which was sent at festival sponsor La Trobe University's request, referenced the university's anti-racism plan, which included a contested Universities Australia definition of antisemitism.
Organisers including Julie Amos were devastated about how the Bendigo Writers Festival panned out. (ABC News)
The Bendigo council and La Trobe University received consistent criticism from the academic community and locals for their handling of the matter.
The review said industry partners and publishers were still interested in continuing with the festival.
However, it did not specify whether La Trobe University would be involved.
It said La Trobe University was willing to partner on community programs and events, but also noted that "any decision-making around future cultural or financial sponsorships/partnerships and their level of influence over decision making" would need to be carefully considered.
La Trobe University did not directly confirm whether it would be involved should the festival go ahead in 2027.
"La Trobe University welcomes the City of Greater Bendigo's review of the Bendigo Writers Festival and its findings," a spokesperson said.
"We remain committed to supporting and collaborating [with the City of Greater Bendigo] on a range of initiatives that contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of the communities we serve in the Bendigo region."
Di Dempsey has welcomed the council review. (ABC News)
'A lot of common sense'
The review included a roundtable discussion attended by key stakeholders who acknowledged the need for better planning and appointing a dedicated festival director.
"The group reflected this year's festival occurred against a backdrop of significant world events, meaning the operating environment for cultural events like this will require more careful planning in future."
It also recommended running a literary program next year in collaboration with Goldfields Library Corporation.
Bendigo author Di Dempsey said the festival sustained a huge loss this year.
However, she told ABC Statewide Mornings that she was pleased with the review and the council's recommendations contained "a lot of common sense".
Rosemary Sorensen established the festival in 2012. (Supplied: Rosemary Sorensen)
The festival's founding director, Rosemary Sorensen, said the council's report was "mostly good" but missed a few things.
"They haven't yet acknowledged that they did the wrong thing," Ms Sorensen told ABC Statewide Drive.
She is calling for both the Bendigo council and La Trobe University to issue an apology.
"People are not going to put up with this kind of institutional obfuscation of what they are really doing," she said.
"So, if they can't be honest, get out is what I would say."