Having difficult conversations | Arts boards and duty of care | Building a reading nation | More Public. Open. Space. reviews
Plus... two new poems and my Writing NSW workshop goes online
My words, thoughts and ponderings for October 2023 are overwhelmed by colonisation and care. My head and heart are full for First Nations pals and colleagues in the lead-up to this weekend’s referendum in the Australian colony, for the terror and loss of Palestinians and Israelis on the front line of theirs, and for those trying to navigate fear and fake news, politics and polarisation, hatefulness and helplessness to offer solidarity or meaningful support. Take care out there, all.
This enews includes my tips for having difficult conversations and a call to arts boards to consider their duty of care, as well as my report on the national reading symposium and some of my own writing updates.
How to have difficult conversations
As a non-Indigenous Aussie Brit, mine is not one of the important voices in the upcoming referendum. And it feels uncomfortable to share reasons not-to-vote-no rather than reasons-for-yes. But with just a few days left before Australia votes on a Voice to Parliament, I’ve been sharing my (personal, imperfect) list of arguments against common no-campaign messages to help convince undecided, disengaged or no-voting friends, families and colleagues to write ‘YES’.
You can find the full list on Facebook. Or individual memes on my other social media accounts about:
If you’re worried the Voice will divide us by putting race back into the constitution
If you think it’s unfair to preference the voice of one group over others
If you just think the referendum is a waste of time and money
I’ve been using this list to try to speak kindly and enquiringly to strangers online. I’ve been called a racist, a cancer, a supporter of apartheid and more. But having difficult conversations feels like the least we can do right now.
And another thing: duty of care
Our arts, cultural and other for-purpose sectors are designed to put others first – but we’re much better at doing so for our audiences and constituents than we are for ourselves.
This month's 'and another thing' vlog for my Patreon followers uses the examples of the Voice to Parliament referendum, ethical fundraising and our 'post'-pandemic workforce crisis to talk about Board members' duty of care to their organisations, teams and each other. Here’s a sneak peak…
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If you’d like the full video (or more of these rants), you can join me as an advocate, ally or accomplice for rethinking arts governance from just $2.50/month.
National reading symposium wrap-up
Australia is a nation of readers, with reading the second most popular way we engage with art, culture and creativity (after listening to recorded music). Yet 44% of us have low or very low literacy, 25% haven’t read a book in the last year, and recent research shows a 7% drop in the number of young people reading for pleasure. (…)
Nearly double the number of Australians engage in reading every week than playing or watching sport, but sport takes place in the public realm and is so is seen as more integral to and defining of the Australian identity – including receiving significantly more investment. (…)
Imagine the state of abundance we could achieve if we invested more in reading: a nation in which reading is visible and valued across all levels, formats and genres, literacy is rising and understood in different ways, writers are able to sustain viable careers, all Australian stories are able to be told free of stereotypes or silencing, and in which the full potential of reading is realised as a tool to inform and inspire, educate and entertain, as well as to change minds and save lives.
Read more in my wrap up of last month’s VOLUME national reading symposium on the Australia Reads website.
More Public. Open. Space. loveliness
Launching a book is wild. I can’t believe people are saying such lovely things about Public. Open. Space. Thank you, all.
“Currently reading #PublicOpenSpace on Libby & it's saying things I didn't know how to put into words; thank you!” - drawing on the creative process
“Through a fusion of evocative language and thought-provoking imagery, Kate Larsen crafts a compelling exploration of contemporary issues that captivates and challenges readers. The potential of Public. Open. Space. to ignite conversations and kindle empathy makes it a significant addition to the realm of contemporary poetry.” - Jess Checkland, Writing WA
Also, watch this space for news of a Warrane/Sydney launch coming soon.
Two new poems
Thrilled to share two new poems in a recent edition of Creatrix. You can read Anatomy and Erased on the WA Poets website.
Build your author brand online
My November seminar on building your author brand will now take place online.
Find out what options are available to you, how to use different platforms to your best advantage, and how to balance your writing time alongside the time you need to spend building your brand as a writer.
Book your place on the Writing NSW website.