Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2009
The international Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is the major project of the Ubud-based Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation. It was first conceived of by Janet De Neefe, co-founder of the Foundation, as a response to counteract the damaging effect of the first Bali bombing. The first Festival took place in 2004. Since its founding, however, the UWRF has grown and developed into an internationally recognized forum that fosters a global conversation and provides a platform for writers from Indonesia and around the world to share their ideas and perspectives on current issues.
The Festival aims to bring together writers, readers, artists and performers to:
- Exchange information and ideas between the diverse cultures in Asia, the South Pacific and the West, thereby increasing cross-cultural understanding between East and West
- Foster greater public awareness and understanding of writing, cultures and issues in this region
- Create opportunities for emerging and established writers from our region to present their work in an International context and to participate in cross-cultural exchanges
- Foster on-going creative partnerships between writers in the Asia-Pacific region
- Support and provide educational programs for young Indonesians to reach their full potential
Suka Duka : Compassion and Solidarity
7 October — 11 October 2009
Suka Duka is an ancient communal wisdom that for centuries has been one of the main pillars of Bali’s traditional institutions and communities. The principle has guided the members of the traditional institutions, such as banjar (neighbourhood organisations) and desa pakraman (customary villages), to act as one single entity in dealing with life’s hardships and blessings. The suffering of one member will be shouldered by all, while the joy of one will be shared by the other.
The theme reflects the Festival’s commitment to turn this literary gathering into an inspiring moment, through which writers and readers from every corner of the world can establish a mutual understanding as well as a common platform to remind the world of the need to think and act as one single, compassionate entity, particularly during this epoch of violent conflicts and social turmoil.
Read more at ubudwritersfestival.com
