Girls Write Up Sydney 2017 Program
Find out more about the artists taking part in GWU Sydney 2017
During this time participants will register for the day
When a lack of political voice leads to disempowerment, disengagement and disadvantage, personal voices speak up. In this panel, four women offer personal testimony on the politics that affect them. These testimonies will be read live and followed by a panel discussion.
Slam poetry gives voice to a range of political and social issues. In this workshop participants will work on a piece about the things that matter to them. They will have the opportunity to perform their work at the Teenspeak Poetry Slam in the afternoon.
SWEATSHOP is a literacy movement based in Western Sydney that is devoted to empowering groups and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds through training and employment in creative and critical writing initiatives. In these workshops, some of the incredible women from SWEATSHOP share their skills and experiences as they guide participants through the art of bringing one's personal stories to life through writing.
When women speak – or appear on screen – 30% of the time, it is perceived as ‘equal’; any more is ‘dominating’ or ‘talking too much’. We ask a number of professional writers about the barriers they face in personal and professional environments that prevent them from getting their voices heard. In this hosted event, two scriptwriters will explore these online responses and discuss, with examples, how they would go about using them as inspiration for stage or screen. This session is sponsored by Belvoir St Theatre.
On making space for female voices in male dominated industries – what challenges do women face? How are they treated differently because of their gender? What ideas would we have missed out on if women weren’t in these spaces? And how can we make the way easier for the women of the future?
Comics artist Nicky Minus will guide participants through the creation of a graphic narrative. How do words interact with illustrations to tell the story? How can graphic narratives or zines liberate an idea or provide a space for an idea to be expressed?
This workshop will look at starting a piece of writing, knowing it’s going to be performed. Participants will learn some of the basics of turning an idea into a script, and how their work fits into a larger piece of theatre or filmmaking and learn to write against gendered stereotypes.
Can art save the world? Teens respond to the above provocation with a spoken-word piece, followed by a panel about the process of creatively responding to political issues. (Teens who have attended the poetry slam workshop earlier in the day will also have the opportunity to perform their piece in this session if they wish to.)
In this 45-minute session, two of our Girls Write Up speakers will answer some of the anonymous questions posted in the Ask Me Anything box over the course of the day. This is the chance for audience members to ask questions they’ve always wanted to ask, but never had the opportunity.
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RegistrationDuring this time participants will register for the day8:30 am - 9:00 am
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Welcome by Stella Schools Program Manager Bec Kavanagh9:00 am - 9:15 am
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Keynote Main Hall – Winnie Dunn9:15 am - 9:45 am
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The Personal is PoliticalWhen a lack of political voice leads to disempowerment, disengagement and disadvantage, personal voices speak up. In this panel, four women offer personal testimony on the politics that affect them. These testimonies will be read live and followed by a panel discussion.10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Workshop 1A – Slam Poetry – Lorin ElizabethSlam poetry gives voice to a range of political and social issues. In this workshop participants will work on a piece about the things that matter to them. They will have the opportunity to perform their work at the Teenspeak Poetry Slam in the afternoon.10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Workshop 1B – Sweatshop writing workshopSWEATSHOP is a literacy movement based in Western Sydney that is devoted to empowering groups and individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds through training and employment in creative and critical writing initiatives. In these workshops, some of the incredible women from SWEATSHOP share their skills and experiences as they guide participants through the art of bringing one's personal stories to life through writing.10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Too Shy to SpeakWhen women speak – or appear on screen – 30% of the time, it is perceived as ‘equal’; any more is ‘dominating’ or ‘talking too much’. We ask a number of professional writers about the barriers they face in personal and professional environments that prevent them from getting their voices heard. In this hosted event, two scriptwriters will explore these online responses and discuss, with examples, how they would go about using them as inspiration for stage or screen. This session is sponsored by Belvoir St Theatre11:00 am - 12:00 pm
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LUNCH12:00 pm - 12:45 pm
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Women in Male SpacesOn making space for female voices in male dominated industries – what challenges do women face? How are they treated differently because of their gender? What ideas would we have missed out on if women weren’t in these spaces? And how can we make the way easier for the women of the future?12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
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Workshop 2A – Graphic Narratives – Nicky MinusComics artist Nicky Minus will guide participants through the creation of a graphic narrative. How do words interact with illustrations to tell the story? How can graphic narratives or zines liberate an idea or provide a space for an idea to be expressed?12:45 pm - 2:45 pm
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Workshop 2B – scriptwriting workshop – Julia-Rose LewisThis workshop will look at starting a piece of writing, knowing it’s going to be performed. Participants will learn some of the basics of turning an idea into a script, and how their work fits into a larger piece of theatre or filmmaking and learn to write against gendered stereotypes.12:45 pm - 2:45 pm
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Teenspeak Poetry SlamCan art save the world? Teens respond to the above provocation with a spoken-word piece, followed by a panel about the process of creatively responding to political issues. (Teens who have attended the poetry slam workshop earlier in the day will also have the opportunity to perform their piece in this session if they wish to.)1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
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Ask Me AnythingIn this 45-minute session, two of our Girls Write Up speakers will answer some of the anonymous questions posted in the Ask Me Anything box over the course of the day. This is the chance for audience members to ask questions they’ve always wanted to ask, but never had the opportunity.3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Notes
DATE: 22 & 23 June
VENUE: New South Wales Writers Centre
This event will take place in various rooms through the New South Wales Writers Centre. Participants should all arrive by 8.45am to attend the first session. Participants will be notified of workshop locations on the day and directed by Stella staff and volunteers.
All participants will have the opportunity to enrol in one workshop. A link to pre-register will be sent to everyone with a valid ticket the week of Monday 5 June. Workshops will remain open until all places are filled; if you are registering for other people too, you must provide individual names and email addresses for each attendee. Workshops are open only to teens – adult ticket holders will remain in the main hall for the duration of the event. Participants can wait to register for workshops on the day but some may be booked out by then.
