The Faraway Near

A WORLD-FIRST POP-UP BAR

Help us to create an intimate pop-up festival bar, with a thought-provoking international writer chatting to you from the head of your table - via FHD screen.

WAIT, WHO ARE YOU GUYS?

WORD is Ōtautahi's beloved festival of books, writing and ideas, programmed by Rachael King and Nic Low. From August 25-29 we overload your brain with 150 writers and thinkers presenting on everything from bedtime stories to Ngāi Tahu history to the end of the world (and sometimes all three).

BRINGING THE OUT-THERE OVER HERE

Part of our mission is giving you folk access to astonishing international authors. In the past we've brought to Christchurch visionaries like Akala, DeRay McKesson, Clementine Ford, Ian Rankin, Ivan Coyote, Reni Eddo-Lodge, Hollie McNish, Robin Robertson, Zadie Smith, David Mitchell and Kristin Hersh.

WAIT, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE PANDEMIC?

Yeah, we did. International travel is off. We can't bring any writers over. And we're all sick of Zoom, right?

BRINGING THE FARAWAY NEAR

Which is why we're creating The Faraway Near: our custom digital venue that has the intimacy of a night at the pub with friends - and your favourite writer.

The Faraway Near is a bar with ten tables of ten. Grab a glass of wine and a seat, and settle in for a night of deep storytelling and conversation with the night’s guest - sitting life-sized at your table via freestanding FHD display.

Our guests are broadcast from their own homes around the world, and appear in informal conversation with a skilled interviewer. Drinks will be served throughout, and you'll have a chance to ask questions of your guest as well.

WHO'S COMING?

It's a secret! But one worth waiting for. While you'll have to hold tight until July 6th for our programme launch to find out, we can promise a lineup every bit as exciting as in the past, from beloved favourites to rising stars.

WHY WOULD I BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE FARAWAY NEAR?

It doesn't cost much to run a giant boring Zoom call. But The Faraway Near requires some serious technical ninja business to make the magic work. Which is why we'd love your help to get this idea off the ground.

You might donate and become a citizen because:

• You're sick of giant heads on screens saying 'Can you hear me now?'
• You'd like to help bring an intriguing world-first concept to life, right here in Ōtautahi.
• You reckon it's important to stay connected with international writing and ideas.
• You like to support making lemonade out of global pandemic lemons.
• You'd like to take a bunch of friends down to have a beer and get cozy with some awe-inspiring authors.

WHERE DO THE DOLLARS GO?

There are two main expenses we'd love your help to meet. First, decor to turn a dreary event space into a cozy, inviting bar. So think lush potplants, beautiful lamps, screens, weird nick-nacks, maybe the odd (vegan, ironic) moose head.

Second: tech! We're bringing in some of our city's best technical minds to make this a reality, and literal and metaphorical truckloads of screens, cables, mixers, cameras, laptops and black boxes covered in LED lights which we don't really understand but are expensive to hire.

Ticket prices and our existing budgets will cover costs for the writers and our staff and everything else. But if you can help us make the venue itself a reality - you'll forever be remembered as a citizen of The Faraway Near!

WHY WOULDN'T I BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE FARAWAY NEAR?

Good question.

TELL ME MORE

If you'd like to know more about what we do, check out some podcasts from previous festivals, and some previous authors and events.

WHAT'S WITH THAT NAME?

The Faraway Near is a bowdlerised homage to Rebecca Solnit's wonderful book, The Faraway Nearby, which takes its name from a letter written by the incredible artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

NOW WHAT?

Donate today? Okay, sure.

ALSO:

Please tell your friends!

xxx Nic and Rachael and the entire WORD team.