Media Release
29 May 2014
The Australia-Indonesia Emerging Writers Exchange
Two young writers from Australia and Indonesia are this month taking part in an emerging writers exchange.
Ni Ketut Sudiani from Bali is in Melbourne this week to attend the Emerging Writers’ Festival in Melbourne, while earlier this month Australia’s Luke Ryan took part in the Bali Emerging Writers Festival.
The exchange is a part of the Australian Embassy Jakarta’s Arts and Cultural Program 2014.
Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said the reciprocal visits would give both writers valuable international exposure and experience.
“I am pleased the embassy can support the early careers of these two writers in this way. This is a great opportunity to broaden their professional networks and enjoy the exposure to a different literary tradition and cultural environment,” the Ambassador said.
“Nothing is better to get an understanding about another country than actually going there, meeting the people and experiencing it for yourself. These exchanges will help both Luke and Sudiani discover for themselves the similarities and differences between Australia and Indonesia and their people.”
In Melbourne, Mr Ryan and Ms Sudiani will appear together at the National Writers' Conference where they will discuss the exchange and potential for Australia and Indonesia collaboration. In Bali, Mr Ryan led a workshop, visited a university and took part in a talk, a panel discussion and an open mic evening.
Before leaving for Australia, Ms Sudiani said she was looking forward to the visit.
“This wonderful writers exchange program will be a great opportunity to meet, share and listen to the stories from outstanding writers. I am looking forward to feeling and experiencing everything in Melbourne which will be totally different to my hometown in Bali,” she said.
As a place that Australians love, but too often have a one-sided relationship with, this is an exciting chance to see the Bali that the Balinese themselves experience and discover first-hand what inspires its writers," Mr Ryan said.
The Australian Consul-General in Bali, Ms Majell Hind, said the literary exchange would help broaden cultural connections between Australia and Indonesia and further develop people-to-people links.
“I hope this exchange will be the beginning of a long-association for both Luke and Sudiani with the other country. I am interested to see whether their experiences while they are away have an influence on their writing in the future,” she said.
The Australian Embassy’s Arts and Cultural Program 2014 includes concerts, visual art exhibitions, dance, literature, fashion and an innovative research science seminar series and is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Arts and Cultural Program 2014 is generously supported by the ANZ Bank, the Australia-Indonesia Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Curtin University, Deakin University, Ernst and Young, Flinders University, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland and the University of Tasmania.
Media Enquiries:
Vicki Miller, First Secretary (Cultural) tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 959 0304
Ni Ketut Sudiani
Ni Ketut Sudiani writes poetry, essays, articles, prose, and novels. Some of her works have been published in local and national newspapers, such as Kompas, Media Indonesia, Suara Merdeka, Jurnal Nasional, Bali Post, Radar Bali, Journal Sundih, and more. Her pieces have also been published in several books, including Jalan Angin, 2006; Kota di Utara Peta, 2007; Top 100 Poetry, INTI dpp Jakarta, 2007; Creative Painter Biography, Waktu Tuhan (Wianta), 2008; Kampung dalam diri, 2008; Keranda Emas, 2008; Short Story Anthology, Akademika, 2009; The Color of Woman, Indonesia – French, 2010. Her upcoming books are The profile of Udayana Young Enterpreneurs and a novel The Voices of Butterflies: a story from Truro to Sei Gohong which will be published in early 2014. She was a panellist at Bali Emerging Writers Festival, the sibling festival of Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, 2011, and part of Indonesia – Canada Youth Exchange Program 2011-2012.
Luke Ryan
Luke Ryan is a 28-year-old Melbourne-based freelance writer and comedian. He writes short-form non-fiction with a comic edge and is about to release his debut book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Chemo, a comedy memoir about having had cancer a couple of times, due for release through Affirm Press in July 2014. His work has appeared in a number of publications including TheVine, Junkee, The Guardian, The Age, Smith Journal, The Lifted Brow, Crikey, Kill Your Darlings and many more.