PA/45/12 21 November 2012
Australian author Frané Lessac on India tour
Global traveller and story teller, Frané Lessac has arrived in India as part of Oz Fest, the biggest Australian cultural festival ever staged in India. The award-winning author and illustrator of 35 children’s books will feature at Bookaroo Children’s Literature Festival in Delhi this weekend (23-25 November).
Frané has already been busy visiting schools and speaking in book stores in Kolkata and Chandigarh. Frané’s visit is supported by the Australia-India Council (AIC).
“It is fantastic to have Frané Lessac in India. The AIC has toured Australian authors to India for 20 years and has introduced Indian audiences to some of Australia’s best writers,” said Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner to India.
India has inspired the work of many great Australian writers. For the past 20 years, the AIC has funded Australian authors to travel to India so they can soak up its wonders and connect with the people of one of the world’s greatest book-loving nations.
Through her books, Frané aims to instil pride in children about their unique heritage and their own ability to capture it in picture and words. Frané was awarded The Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Service to Children's Literature. She joined the National Year of Reading 2012 initiative as a State Ambassador.
The AIC has promoted the relationship between Australia and India since its foundation in 1992. The Council aims to broaden the bilateral relationship by encouraging and supporting contacts and increasing levels of knowledge and understanding between the peoples and institutions of the two countries. For further information, visit www.dfat.gov.au/aic .
Oz Fest is the biggest Australian cultural festival ever staged in India. The Australian Government is working with 24 government, business, institutional and production partners to present over 100 events in 18 locations across India between October 2012 and February 2013. Oz Fest is the Australia International Cultural Council’s (AICC) focus country program for 2012.
For more information visit www.ozfestindia.com, www.facebook.com/ozfestinindia or follow us on twitter @OzFestIndia
Frané Lessac’s India program
| City | Dates | Events |
| Kolkata |
17 November
18 November
19 November |
Workshop in association with Oxford Junior at the Oxford Bookstore, Park Street, 4 pm
Interaction at Apeejay School, Salt Lake, 9 am in association with Oxford Junior Panel discussion Reading and reflections: An
Interaction at La Martiniere school, Loudon Street, 9 am Interaction at Birla High School, Moira Street, 11 am Interaction at Heritage School, East Kolkata (all three interactions in association with SPIC MACAY) |
| Chandigarh |
20 November
21 November |
Interaction at Strawberry Fields School, 11.45 am
Doodle wall workshop at Rock Garden, 3 pm (in association with Nek Chand Foundation)
Interaction at St Kabir School, Sec 26, 9 am Interaction at Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36-D, 12.30 pm (all school interactions in association with SPIC MACAY)
|
| Delhi |
22 November
23 November
24 November
25 November
|
Interaction at the Heritage School, Sector 26, Gurgaon 10.30 am
Session at Scottish High International School, Gurgaon, 12.30 pm (in association with Bookaroo Festival for Children’s Literature)
Creation Stories: Bookaroo, Sanskriti Kendra, age 6-8, limited to Interaction at Pathways School, Sector 100, NOIDA, 2.30 pm (arranged by Jaya Bhattacharjee Rose, independent international publishing consultant and columnist) Magic Doodling, Bookaroo, (age 8-10), 2.45 pm
Make Your Own Picture, Bookaroo (age 8-10), 2.45 pm
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