Heading for Newcastle | Tears for peers | Poetry lesson plans for teachers, librarians and workshop leaders

Plus the very first sightings of Public. Open. Space. in the world

Welcome to my words, thoughts and ponderings for May. This enews includes my thoughts on the hidden costs of arts funding, the first part of a new vlog series on poetry lesson plans, and the first sightings of my debut collection out in the world.

AMaGA 2023: Discomfort

This week, I’m heading to the Awabakal and Worimi lands of Newcastle to share my thoughts on cultural, not-for-profit and GLAM-sector governance at the AMaGA National Conference. Tickets are still available to join the conversation online, or follow along using the #AMAGA2023 hashtag.

The hidden costs of arts funding

Across Australia, hundreds of arts organisations are currently awaiting the outcome of expressions of interest for four-year funding from Australia Council for the Arts. In Warrang/Sydney meeting-rooms, teams of subcontracted industry advisors are being assembled in their respective artforms to advise Council on which applications are eligible to go through to second and final stage of their decision-making process.

‘Post’-pandemic, however, our sector is both exhausted and animated by a new sense of perspective that leaves many unwilling to put up with the way things ‘have always been done’. This includes a new interrogation of the unseen labour of arts funding processes: the expectations on applicants and the pressure on advisors and peers.

My thoughts on the hidden costs of arts funding are now online on the Overland website.

Run your own poetry workshop

In anticipation of July’s launch of Public. Open. Space., I’ve been working on some tips for teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in running your own poetry workshops. Here’s part one…

First reviews

With less than two months til launch, I’ve been squeeing with delight this week at the first few sightings of my book out in the world. 

Author Laurie Steed (who will be launching the book in Fremantle) posted ‘a *little* bit biased’ review that ‘Public. Open. Space. is a Fucking. Awesome. Book. Apologies for the swearing, it’s that good, so really, I’m not sorry at all! … It’s a series of poetic meditations on identity, power and self-expression on the internet. How and why we reach out there and the challenges of living and finding meaning in the digital space.’

Fellow WA literati Bianca Breen said that it’s ‘an insightful and thought-provoking collection that examines our space on the internet and the place we have in real and digital spaces.’

And I still cannot express the joy of my favourite Australian poet, Maxine Beneba Clarke, lending this quote to the book’s cover: ‘Public. Open. Space. is a considered, tender, and accomplished debut from a poet to watch.’ (Which is what Jane Sullivan wrote for The Age too).

*swoon*

Enjoy this enews?

If my work has been of value to you, I’d appreciate you joining me as an advocate, ally or accomplice on Patreon from just $2.50/month).

With huge thanks to Tarsha, Evrim and Adele for joining my Patreon team this month.