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Chair’s Overview of Featherston Booktown from September 2023 – July 2024

Updated: Sep 7

 FEATHERSTON BOOKTOWN BOARD OF TRUSTEES AGM, SUNDAY 28 JULY 2024


Over the last year, the Featherston Booktown Trustees continued to progress Featherston Booktown’s strategic trajectory – as set-out in the organisation’s Strategic Plan: to be a year-round literary development organisation seeking to grow thriving communities by inspiring people to read more, write more, cherish the craft of the book, and share stories and ideas.  


Significant achievements included:

SEPTEMBER 2023

Featherston Booktown was a finalist in the Wairarapa Business Awards in the Tranzit Vibrant Award category alongside Greytown Festival of Christmas (the winner), and Golden Shears. FBT had applied to be entered in the Not-for-Profit category; the organisers moved FBT into the Vibrant Award without consultation.

OCTOBER 2023

5 October: The visionary Booklover’s Trail Te Ara Kai Pukapuka Audio App, conceived and developed by Featherston Bootown, was launched at the Dickensian bookshop in Featherston. View our launch video:

25-26 October: The Rural Readers Outreach Pilot Programme (RROPP) took place at Kahutara and Pirinoa schools. Popular writers Gavin Bishop, Mary-ann Scott and Philippa Werry spent the day at each school, inspiring the students to read and write more. There was an event for both communities held at Kahutara School on the evening of 25 October. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM80bRTkyeg

DECEMBER 2023

8 December: The Joy Cowley Children’s Playground, named for our Patron Joy Cowley, was blessed by mana whenua and publicly launched – an initiative jointly developed by Featherston Booktown and the South Waiarapa District Council. Joy has moved from Featherston and is now settled in Dunedin to be closer to family. She is still deeply connected to Featherston Booktown as our Patron.

MARCH 2024

14-18 March: Featherston Booktown hosted the International Organisation of Booktowns Global Conference in Featherston. We welcomed delegates from Scotland, Sweden, South Africa, Bulgaria and Australia.


15 March; Launch of the 9th Karukatea Festival programme at the Anzac Hall as part of the IoB Global Conference. Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival tickets went on sale at Eventfinda that evening. https://youtu.be/MfFmb8pNSoA

APRIL 2024

21 April: Book Launch at Messines Bookshop of the new edition of Safe Haven by Neil Frances.

MAY 2024

8–10 May: The Featherston Booktown Young Readers Programme featured 20 events, 21 presenters and 1000 Wairarapa students experienced an author/poet/illustrator in school. 


10–13 May: The ninth Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival took place, the most successful to date. Comprising 9,500 visitors, 39 events throughout the weekend (21 of which were sold out before the Festival began) with 88 presenters across both programmes. 14 booksellers in the booksellers marquee. There were four free events for children (3-13 years); craft of the book events and general events featuring panel discussions, in conversation and lectures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLok3p9vuTw 

JULY 2024


5 July: An event was held with Bariz Shah and Hon. Ron Mark as moderator to discuss Beyond Hope as part of the Greytown Festival of Christmas.  This took place at The Offering in Greytown and was a partnership between Featherston Booktown and Mrs Blackwell’s Vilklage Bookshop.

THANKS


Following another extremely busy and successful year, my sincere thanks go to the Board of Trustees, the Operations Manager and her team, and our generous volunteers – along with our generous funders, donors, supporters, sponsors, and Friends. 


Peter Biggs CNZM

Chair: Featherston Booktown Trust

28 July 2024




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