About Us
A Celebration of Philanthropy and Volunteerism
The Irrawaddy Literary Festival was a not-for-profit event run entirely by volunteers celebrating Myanmar and international writers. All sponsorship funding was used to produce the Festivals; with no salaries or fees paid to anyone involved.
Until being suspended due to the military coup in 2021, the Festival ran five times between 2013 and 2019. The first Festival was held in Yangon in 2013 with a nominal entrance fee of around $1. Subsequent Festivals were held in Mandalay, with entrance free to all.
“The festival is providing an important open forum for Burma’s literary talent. Its stimulating mix of gifted writers from overseas and some of our most accomplished Burmese authors, cartoonists, translators and artists, has helped to shine a spotlight on the arts and literature in Burma. The next festival will strengthen existing bonds and encourage yet more creativity between Burma’s writers and those from many other countries. It is also another opportunity for all those who care about literature to enjoy a world-class festival.”
Festival Patron Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
The Origins of the Festival and its Governance
Work on the inaugural Festival began in 2011 by the ILF’s founder, Jane Heyn, wife of the then British Ambassador to Myanmar, Andrew Heyn. From its inception, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has been the Festival’s patron.
In 2016 the Festival became a UK registered charity – Irrawaddy Literary Festival Charitable Trust (registered charity number 1168517).
The Charitable Trust’s trustees are Jane Heyn; Dr Rupert Arrowsmith; Professor Jacqueline Dutton (Melbourne University); Giles FitzHerbert CMG; Andrew Heyn CMG, OBE.
In May 2018 in Yangon, the trustees of the Irrawaddy Literary Festival Charitable Trust and the Myanmar organisers announced the establishment of a Myanmar Board which would assume responsibility for the organisation of future Festivals. This was in line with the original vision of founding director Jane Heyn and the Festival’s patron, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Myanmar board is headed by chair, Saya U Nay Oke and vice-chair Dr Aung Myint with the invaluable support of Yangon Board member, May Thwin Oo, who has been an absolutely key player in all five Festivals.
