The Clarion South writers workshop, known as the Australian 'boot camp' for speculative fiction writers, is experiencing trouble and calling for donations to ensure the next workshop goes ahead in 2011.
Graduates from Clarion South workshops include Paul Haines, Karen Miller, Brendan Duffy, Cat Sparks, James R. Cain, Nathan Burrage, Deborah Kalin, Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Rjurik Davidson, Ellen Klages, Lyn Battersby, Jason Fischer, Christopher Green, and Peter M. Ball. Tutors have included Sean Williams, Margo Lanagan, Ellen Datlow, Jack Dann, Kelly Link & Gavin Grant, Gardner Dozois, Scott Westerfeld, and Terry Dowling.
The following is a call for support from Kate Eltham, co-director of Clarion South:
"You probably heard on the grapevine - and our most recent students experienced it first hand - that we encountered a few challenges in delivering the latest Clarion South workshop. Not only was our contract with our original venue at Griffith University cancelled at short notice, requiring us to find a new and more expensive home, but we had not one but three (!) unexpected tutor cancellations.
We're proud of the way we handled these challenges to deliver another successful workshop in 2009, but financially it wiped us clean. We'd love your help and support to refill the coffers so that we can plan for our future workshops and put Clarion South on a more stable financial footing. We're grateful for any small token of support you can provide at this time.
There are a few ways you can help...
1. Donate to our Fundraising Appeal
Simply go to www.clarionsouth.org/donate.htm to make a PayPal donation directly to Clarion South. We know it's not the best time be launching an appeal, just after Christmas, during a global financial meltdown, and during some very real human crises such as the Victorian Bushfires. You have our heartfelt appreciation for even very small donations, and if you are not in a position to give, that is perfectly okay.
2. Spread the word
Even if you can't donate to the Appeal, we would love your support to spread the word about our fundraising drive. By the end of March, we are hoping to raise $4,000 for Clarion South. If you know any friends who are sympathetic to the aims and activities of Clarion South, please let them know - via Facebook, MySpace, your blog or any other means.
We'll have a Facebook group up shortly, but in the meantime, please feel free to direct people to our website.
Thank you in advance for your love and support. We're incredibly passionate about Clarion South and would like to see it thrive and continue into the future.
If you have any questions at all, or can think of any other suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Feel free to call me direct on 0407 695 950 at any time, or email us at info@clarionsouth.org."
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