Damian Barr's Literary Salon tempts the world's best writers to read exclusively from their latest greatest works and share their own personal stories. Join Damian for a special Oceania themed Literary Salon in the penthouse of New Zealand House to coincide with the major exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Damian Barr, award-winning writer, journalist, presenter and salonnière extraordinaire is by now an honorary New Zealander by virtue of the fact that on his most recent visit to the country he engaged in a friendly twitter exchange with New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern*. Joining him for this special Salon are five leading voices from the Pacific...Māori writers Witi Ihimaera, Tina Makereti and Paula Morris and Pasifika poets David Egglegon and Karlo Mila, all of whom tell stunning Oceanic stories for the 21st century.

Guests will enjoy delicious New Zealand wine from Black Estate along with lively conversation, readings and performances all set against the backdrop of the panoramic London skyline. Please REGISTER to attend - entry to New Zealand House is by invitation-only.

More on the writers...Witi Ihimaera is one of New Zealand’s greatest modern writers; in 1974 he became the first Māori author to publish a novel, and four of his books including Whale Rider have been made into feature films. Tina Makereti’s latest novel The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke tells the story of young Māori man who becomes a ‘living exhibit’ at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, in 1846. Paula Morris is the author of eight novels. Her most recent book False River is a collection of stories and essays around the subject of secret histories. David Eggleton, poet, writer, reviewer and editor published a new poerty collection Edgeland in 2018. He has won a number of awards including, uniquely among NZ poets, the London Time Out Street Entertainer of the Year (1985). Pasifika poet, Karlo Mila, who represented Tonga at the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, has a new poetry collection coming in 2019.

Oceania is at the Royal Academy from 29 September to 10 December 2018. If you are interested in this event, you might also be interested to attend an event at the Royal Academy: these writers will be in conversation with Senior Curator, Adrian Locke, at the Royal Academy on Friday 9 November. Further information and to purchase tickets:

www.royalacademy.org.uk/event/oceania-writing-contemporary-literature-in-the-south-pacific

The exhibition itself is FREE for all New Zealand and Pacific Island passport holders (who will need to show their passport at the exhibition entrance).

And on Thursday 8 November, the writers will be taking part in a discussion 'Speaking Sideways Talking Back' at the Commonwealth Foundation, as part of their Commonwealth Writers Conversations. To register to attend: www.commonwealthwriters.org/speaking-sideways-talking-back-contemporary-perspectives-south-pacific-writers/

Supported by Creative New Zealand with thanks to the New Zealand High Commission and Black Estate.

*She expressed concern over his dislike of New Zealand cheese.

Photo credit: Kevin Rabalais