Go to WORD
WORD Christchurch is happening next month and it’s chock full of amazing events for readers, writers and the curious. The key word for the festival this year is joy, and we spoke to Programme Director Kiran Dass about the upcoming festival and her thoughts on creativity…
How would you describe what you do?
I’m the Programme Director for WORD Christchurch festival and events. I develop the festival’s programme and our year-round out-of-season events. I’m a book reviewer, writer and reader. Everything I do comes back to championing books, writers and their work, and helping people discover amazing books and music they might not otherwise hear about, or showing them in new angles. I used to be the buyer for an independent bookshop and the mighty jigsaw of programming a festival is a bit like that – considering audience, community, and curating for those in inventive, fun, meaningful and streamlined ways.
What are you working on right now?
We are currently working on delivering the festival which takes place in Ōtautahi 27-31 August. The theme this year is JOY! The world needs more of it, and festivals are such special, uplifting places where people can come together to experience joy together. Join us!
What is essential for creatives to have in their life?
Time, space and the financial security to have those two things. I find it’s so easy to park my own personal projects because nobody is waiting on me for them, there’s no deadline. So, accountability is useful, too. If you say out loud that you are going to do the thing, you’re more likely to do the thing! I think community is important too, you can lift each other. For me, curiosity feeds into everything I do, too.
What inspires you about Ōtautahi?
The feeling of possibility. It feels like a place that is on the cusp of something. I still cannot get over the majestic landscape, big sky and the light here. I’m such a northerner and the sky and wide open space is something that I marvel at. I’m also constantly inspired by my friends here. What piece of advice about your creative work has served you well? I took a writing masterclass with the brilliant Irish writer Sinead Gleeson and she said that if you feel stuck as a writer, sometimes the problem of writing a piece, like an essay, can become the piece itself. She gave the example of Axl Rose writing ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’. He got stuck on what the next lyric should be and he was pacing around muttering, “where do we go? Where do we go now?” And that ended up becoming a memorable part of the song. I think essentially, it’s about embracing the glitch. And recently, my colleague Lyds said something that I keep thinking of and has definitely helped me: “Take a bite of the apple.” I’m a “yes” person and I never say no to a challenge, opportunity or invitation. I love to do stuff! But this means I often end up overloading myself. Since Lyds said, “take a bite of the apple,” instead of automatically and unthinkingly saying yes to something, I pause, step back, and chew it over first.
What’s the biggest misconception about your creative work, or creative work in general?
That writing is something you “just bash out”. Writing is labour. It doesn’t happen on its own, you have to show up and put the work in. Personally, I find writing excruciatingly difficult. That’s probably the Virgo in me! I think there’s something probably a bit mysterious about the role of a festival programme director too. People are often like, “The festival goes for a week. So what do you do for the rest of the year?” There’s a lot of unseen, year-round work that goes into creating and making festivals and events possible.
What Christchurch creatives do you most admire?
Tusiata Avia, Erik Kennedy, Ariana Tikao, Juanita Hepi, Jo Burzynska – I’m in awe of all of them.
What artwork/piece of music/performance has taken your breath away?
It was powerful to see Victor Rodger’s brilliant Black Faggot at the Court Theatre. It was moving, melancholy, staunch and hilarious.
What do you wish you’d have known about creative work when you were younger?
That I don’t have to wait for permission first, that I can create space for myself and not wait for someone to make space for me.
What book do you wish you’d written?
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend. The diary of Leicester’s teenage poet and wannabe intellectual. Absolutely brilliant satire and humour, political and social commentary. Though to be honest, rather than wishing I’d written someone else’s book, I probably just need to get cracking and write one of my own.
If you could host a dinner party for five writers – dead or alive – who would be at your table and why?
Sue Townsend – every dinner table needs a good socialist and humourist Edna O’Brien – for her fierce, uncompromising insights and touch of icy glamour David Nicholls – he’s a real book lover and I love the generous and thoughtful way he talks about books and writing Dorothy Parker – can you imagine the rapid fire bon mots? Eve Babitz – to hear her stories about being in the thick of counter-culture Los Angeles and insider goss about the bands and glossy people she hung out with. (The wine would be flowing.)
Place you love best in Christchurch?
The Cellar Door has one of the best wine lists in the city. I love Lumiere which is a dream cinema that is not only a beautiful space but has exciting programming for film heads. They showed one of my favourite films Wake in Fright, recently! I love all the beautiful walks and the Port Hills. Still looking for the best coffee in Otautahi, so would love to know people’s recs for a proper strong-like-motor-oil long black, please.