Oliver appointed artistic director of Blak & Bright

The First Nations literary festival Blak & Bright has announced the appointment of Bebe Oliver as the festival’s new artistic director and CEO.

Oliver takes over from Jane Harrison, an acclaimed author and playwright who has directed the festival since 2016.

A descendant of the Bardi Jawi people, Oliver is an award-winning author, presenter and speaker living on the unceded lands of the Kulin peoples. He is vice-chair of Magabala Books and has worked with international organisations such as Aesop, Global Citizen and World Pride “to celebrate Blak stories, communities and identities,” the festival said in a statement.

“I am extremely excited, honoured and humbled to lead Blak & Bright through its next journey of continued milestones and growth,” said Oliver. “Storytelling is one of the richest and most powerful ways to express the deep and layered identities of First Nations peoples. It fills me with so much pride to continue to advocate for the voices and truths our communities need to hear. Thanks to Jane Harrison’s leadership and courage, Blak & Bright is a vital fibre in the fabric of our cultural and creative landscapes. I am committed to supporting our First Nations storytellers as their power and strength continues to grow.”

Harrison said she was “excited to have Bebe lead the team into a bright Blak future.”

In a statement, the board of Blak & Bright thanked Harrison “for her visionary leadership and warmly welcomed Bebe Oliver to his new role.”

Pictured (from left): Bebe Oliver and Jane Harrison.

Category: Local News