Australia-Indonesia Emerging Writers Exchange

Jakarta (Antara) - Two young writers from Australia and Indonesia are this month taking part in an emerging writers exchange, according to the Australian Embassy here on its official web site on Thursday. 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. He 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. (*)