The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund is a proud supporter of the upcoming Word for Word National Non-Fiction Festival in Geelong, 17-19 November. The festival celebrates non-fiction writing in all its exciting forms, genres and facets, and this year boasts an impressive line-up of internationally renowned, award-winning Australian authors. Chief Executive of the Copyright Agency, Adam Suckling, says the Cultural Fund is dedicated to supporting innovation in the Australian creative industries and creating opportunities for local writers. “The Cultural Fund’s provision of $15,000 towards writers’ fees for the Word for Word Masterclass program offers a unique opportunity for 200 emerging and aspiring writers from regional and rural backgrounds to gain skills and valuable insights from established and recognised writers,” Mr Suckling says. “This year the masterclass program is being expanded beyond Geelong’s community libraries into Torquay, Bannockburn, Belmont, Waurn Ponds and Queenscliff rural and regional libraries, providing critical support to emerging writers in these regional communities.”  Now in its fourth year, the Word for Word National Non-Fiction Festival is the largest national event for non-fiction writing and will generate discussion and debate around hot topics such as history, climate change and feminism. Acclaimed Australian author and the 2016 Miles Franklin Award winner, Peter Carey, will headline this year’s festival, setting the focus on the intersection of fiction and non-fiction in telling true stories, and inviting audiences to explore the broad nature of non-fiction writing. The festival will host more than 80 noteworthy guest presenters over three days of masterclasses, talks and panel discussions. The roll-call includes celebrated novelists Frank Moorhouse and John Marsden, climate scientist Tim Flannery, barrister and human rights advocate Julian Burnside QC, columnist Benjamin Law, former news anchor Tracy Spicer, former Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons and tennis champion Jelena Dokic. Maryanne Vagg, Word for Word Festival Director, says, “We are pleased to be hosting nine masterclasses in venues across Geelong and the region for writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. The masterclasses are a chance for regional writers to take advantage of the expertise of our award-winning and highly experienced writing tutors for half-day and full day sessions “Without the support and funding of our sponsors, we would not be able to create such an engaging and thoughtful event that we hope inspires regional support for non-fiction writing.” This year’s program explores the line between fiction and non-fiction and invites audiences to ‘go beneath the surface’ into topics and issues, opening the minds of regional writers to the possibilities of the truth. “The Cultural Fund is committed to supporting Australian writers and this is the perfect example of an initiative that will help promote a region’s cultural excellence as well as providing wide-reaching benefits to Australia’s literary landscape,” adds Mr Suckling.About the Copyright Agency The not-for-profit Copyright Agency connects users and creators of content, providing licences for the use of copyright material such as text, images, art and survey plans. We manage the educational and government licences for the use of text and images, as well as the resale royalty scheme for artists (by Government appointment). Our members include writers, artists, surveyors and publishers. Membership is free. www.copyright.com.au