WordFest Welcomes New Staff
WordFest is pleased to welcome Emmanuelle Fontaine, the new Education Program Assistant, and Cassandra Paul who has joined the team as Operations Coordinator.
Emmanuelle Fontaine will work closely with Book Rapport Manager Sandra Paire on the delivery of WordFest’s children’s and youth programming, and help coordinate the French-language component of WordFest — Festival des mots. She can be reached at bookrapport@wordfest.com or 403 237 9068.
Cassandra Paul will oversee a number of key areas of WordFest operations — from streamlining organizational systems and managing special projects, to administering the WordFest box office and coordinating the Festival’s team of over 200 volunteers. She can be reached at cpaul@wordfest.com or 403 237 9068.
WordFest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival is a small, dynamic not-for-profit charitable organization. The 18th Annual WordFest will take place October 14-20, 2013 and will bring over 65 writers from around the world in contact with over 14,000 readers. For updates on career and volunteer opportunities, visit wordfest.com, sign up for the newsletter, and follow WordFest on Twitter and Facebook.
WordFest says goodbye to Marketing Manager Mary Kapusta
WordFest says goodbye to Marketing Manager Mary Kapusta this month as she joins the National Music Centre as their new Marketing and Public Relations Manager. Kapusta began working at WordFest in 2009 and during her time led a rebrand, supported leadership succession, completed box office restructuring and worked on numerous special projects such as WordFest in Fort Nelson, The GG Podcast series and Wild West WordFest.
“I loved my time at WordFest and am grateful to the Festival for their support as I embark on a new adventure,” said Kapusta. “I will miss my coworkers, the artists I’ve had a chance to get to know and the incredible volunteers that are so loyal to WordFest.”
The Festival’s Marketing Department will be restructured as current Arts Administrator Everett Wilson will be promoted to Communications Coordinator and WordFest will hire an Operations Coordinator to manage strategic communications plans and partnerships with a focus on revenue growth initiatives.
During the transition, media requests should be forwarded to Everett Wilson at ewilson@wordfest.com.
Call for Submissions – Anne Green Award
(April 2, 2013 – Calgary, AB) WordFest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival is inviting submissions for the Anne Green Award. The $3,000 award is given to an artist whose project explores and challenges the traditional form of story and narrative.
The recipient will also be invited to Calgary as a festival artist, receiving airfare and accommodation, along with an opportunity to present the award-winning work at the 18th annual WordFest held in Calgary and Banff from October 14-20, 2013.
The award is named for Anne Green, Founding Director of WordFest and long-time professional in the Canadian arts community. Thanks to a private donor, a fund was created after the 15th anniversary of WordFest in 2010 to recognize the incredible contribution of the departing Founding Director, and to continue Green’s commitment to profiling innovative work that challenges genres and narrative forms.
The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2013 (postmarked), after which Green and a committee of artistic peers will select the award recipient. The committee hopes to receive a wide range of submissions in varying formats and languages.
The award is open to artists whose primary discipline is based in the written and spoken word. Artists whose work is based in other disciplines must demonstrate that their body of work has previously explored and incorporated literary forms. Interested parties are directed to wordfest.com for more information on eligibility and submission requirements.
WordFest brings more than 65 artists from around the world to connect with readers in Calgary, Banff and the Bow Valley from October 14-20, 2013, in over 60 events that are intimate, interactive and fun. For more information, please call 403.237.9068. Click here for a PDF of this press release.
Calling all Book Lovers!
WordFest is looking for volunteer book reviewers to help the Festival select titles for WordFest 2013 as part of the Volunteer Reader Program.
As a volunteer reviewer, you will be helping the Festival to assess the dozens of books that publishers send to WordFest for consideration every year. Only a few of these books’ authors will be featured in the annual Festival—your review could be a key part of that decision!
To begin, simply drop by our office to pick out a book. Volunteer Readers have two weeks to read the book and then return the book to the office with a typed, double-spaced review of the book.
Books can be picked up between 9:30am-5pm, Monday to Friday at the WordFest Office in Eau Claire Market, 200 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 4R5 (near the east entrance).
If you have any questions, please call 403.237.9068.
Join Us October 14-20, 2013
Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2013 Festival line-up on August 7!
Until then, WordFest is looking for volunteer book reviewers to help the Festival select titles for WordFest 2013 as part of the Volunteer Reader Program. Also, feel free to check out the WordFest Blog to relive WordFest 2012 and for updates on the Festival.