The StoryArts Festival Ipswich began in 1995 as the Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature and has been held every two years since then, offering FREE sessions for children.
Sessions for teachers, librarians, emerging writers and illustrators and member of the public with an interest in children’s literature will return to Woodlands of Marburg in 2022.The festival aims to increase an awareness of the value of the arts in relation to writing and illustration and help build and maintain increased audiences for children’s literature.
The festival aims to inspire young people to buy and read more books and gain an appreciation of the processes involved in writing and illustrating.

The Ipswich Festival is organized and funded mainly by the Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network.
StoryArts Festival Ipswich 2022
Family Program: 1-4 August
Schools Program: 1-5 August
Adult Program: 6-7 August
Family Program
Free sessions after school. They are designed to suit mainly primary school aged children and can extend on sessions held during the day.
The 2022 School Program
Free sessions for students from Years P-7.
Each program consists of children engaging with three authors and illustrators in venues in Ipswich, Qld or at Woodlands of Marburg. Schools apply to attend and are notified of their success.
Because the festival was postponed from 2021, most school bookings were carried over. Limited sessions are now available for booking. See below for details.
Monday 1 August 2022
At Ipswich City Venues
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 4-7 Program
MC13: Lee Fullarton, Allison Rushby, Tristan Bancks 30 spaces
Tuesday 2 August 2022
At Woodlands of Marburg
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 5 -7 Program
TW1: Nat Amoore, Jo Sandhu, Tristan Bancks 14 spaces
Wednesday 3 August 2022
At Woodlands of Marburg
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 5 -7 Programs
WW1: Marc McBride, Tim Harris 30 spaces – short program finish at 12:15
WW2: Nova Weetman, Tim Harris, Renee Treml 30 spaces
WW3: Marc McBride, Renee Treml, Samantha Wheeler 44 spaces
Grades P-2 Program
WW4: Judith Rossell, Katrina Germein, Remy Lai (approximately 3 groups of 10 can be seated, not travelling as one, but in 3 groups)
At Ipswich City Venues
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 3-7 Programs
WC6: Andrew McDonald, Peter Carnavas, Kat Apel 36 spaces
WC7: Kat Apel, Andrew McDonald, Dave Lowe 38 spaces
Thursday 4 August 2022
At Woodlands of Marburg
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 5 -7 Programs
THW1.2: Nova Weetman, Judith Rossell, Marc McBride 35 spaces
THW1.3: Marc McBride, Nova Weetman, Judith Rossell 23 spaces
At Ipswich City Venues
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 3-7 Program
THC5: Renee Treml, Nat Amoore, Tim Harris 12 spaces
Grades P-2 Program
THC13: Lee Fullarton, Yvonne Mes, Andrew McDonald 30 spaces
Friday 5 August 2022
At Woodlands of Marburg
Session Times: 9.45 – 10.45, 11.15 – 12.15, 1.00 – 2.00
Grades 4-6 Program
F1: Marc McBride, Tim Harris, Renee Treml 15 spaces
Please follow the booking link to register a class or for a private booking.
The 2022 Adult Program
6-7 August at Woodlands of Marburg.
The two day conference/retreat for writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians promotes excellence in children’s literature. Primary and Middle Years teachers will gain an insight into the stories behind some of our best book creators with ties to how literature supports aspects of the Australian Curriculum. The festival aims to offer a quality, affordable program for all.
Presenters: Tim Harris (NSW), Nova Weetman (VIC),
Andrew McDonald (VIC), Nat Amoore (NSW)
Dub Leffler (NSW), Renee Treml (VIC),
Judith Rossell (VIC), Ronojoy Ghosh (NSW),
Gus Gordon (NSW), Gregg Dreise (QLD)
Venue: Woodlands of Marburg, Seminary Road, Marburg (45 mins from Brisbane)
This two-day conference for writers, illustrators, teachers and librarians promotes excellence in children’s literature. Primary and Middle Years teachers will gain an insight into the stories behind some of our best book creators.
Gregg Dreise (QLD), Nova Weetman (VIC), Andrew McDonald (VIC),
Renee Treml (VIC), Judith Rossell (VIC), Nat Amoore (NSW), Tim Harris (NSW),
Dub Leffler (NSW), Gus Gordon (NSW), Ronojoy Ghosh (NSW),
Bookings can be made online at Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/BXAHX
Saturday program 9am – 5.15pm – $99 (includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea)
Sunday program 9am – 3.15pm – $75 ((includes morning tea, lunch)
or the Saturday evening program from 6.30pm – $60 (includes dinner)
Book for both days and make a weekend of it. Each program is booked separately.
Limited accommodation available at our venue Woodlands of Marburg.
Download the program and follow the instructions to book your accommodation if required.
https://www.storyartsfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Festival-program-adults-2022.pdf
Being Honest with Nova Weetman | Chasing Story with Gus Gordon |
Graphic Novels with Renee Treml, Nat Amoore and Andrew McDonald |
Pictures and Words: Why some illustrators become writers with Judith Rossell |
Where the ideas for the stories come from with all presenters |
This is Impossible! with Ronojoy Ghosh | Humour & Heart – with Nat Amoore
Publishing Secrets with ALL Presenters | The Future of Story with Dub Leffler |
From board books to graphic novels with Renee Treml | Writing with Passion with Gregg Dreise | A Lesson in Visual Literacy with Gus Gordon, Ronojoy Ghosh, Dub Leffler and Renee Treml | Words, pictures and pigeons – telling stories with a mash-up of genres and influences with Andrew McDonald | Our Dreaming with Dub Leffler and Gregg Dreise
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