In 2010 the Writers' Program will be worked in partnership with NT Writers' Centre.
This year there are plans for a formation of a Barkly Writers' cohort with regular writers' workshops, poetry readings, panels at WordStorm 2010 and performances at Nyinkka Nyunyu Art & Cultural Centre in Tennant Creek.
Other initiatives include:
- Book launch, including Barkly writers, by IAD Press at Desert Harmony Festival 2010
- Barkly Writers' Ink
- Barkly Writers' Retreat
Writers' Retreat 2009
September 28 - October 2
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| Facilitator Yvette Holt |
Storyteller Valda Shannon |
Writers David & Irena |
Exercise for tired minds |
In late September, writers in the Barkly region were given an incredible opportunity to work with award-winning Indigenous author Yvette Holt. Given the remoteness, associated costs, and connection to land and family, it is difficult for writers of this region to have access to support and professional opportunities.
So Barkly Regional Arts, in conjunction with NT Writers’ Centre, organised five days of workshops in Tennant Creek; giving authors in this area and from the communities of Ali Curung (170km south of Tennant) and Canteen Creek (150km southwest) a chance to improve upon and strengthen their writing and performance skills. To find out more read the following article from our regular newspaper column, called Arts Matters.
Seeding a kernel of hope
Eight ladies and one brave man spent their time in a sparsely furnished room in the Tennant Creek Training Centre scribbling away – and eating. Writing, for those not in the know, is hungry work.
Throughout a week of writing workshops (affectionately referred to as the Barkly Writers' Retreat) participants, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, were given exercises to inspire their imaginations and stimulate their senses.
There was quite a bit of emotional excavation amongst the writers once they entered the world of sensory perceptions – sight, sound, scent, taste and touch - and learned from each other that childhood memories can be some of the richest and most emotional sources of writing materials.
Indigenous author Yvette Holt, originally from Queensland and now living in Alice Springs, guided everyone through the creative process, helping them to fine-tune their pieces and offering encouragement along the way.
“The Barkly Writers’ Retreat had a diverse group of established published writers, storytellers, poets and participants who were somewhat fresh to the world of writing as well. This lead to a workshop built on experience and enthusiasm where everybody had the opportunity to be heard without being examined,” said Yvette, who won the 2005 David Unaipon Award for her collection of work, Anonymous Premonition.
“As a facilitator I mostly enjoyed the intimate discussions and the ability to enable others to seek within. I loved the fact that there were whitefellas as well as blackfellas in the group, it made for the most enriching experiences of literary cultures."
After five days of laughter – and a few tears – seven of the nine participants had a piece ready to read out at a public performance at Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre on the Friday evening. And despite some last-minute nerves and the odd hiccup, everyone in the audience was impressed with the writers’ confidence and poise.
“Each writer presented a totally authentic, original view of the world in beautiful prose,” said visiting teacher Lindy Morrison, former drummer of cult ‘80s band The Go Betweens.
“Some stories were so harsh it was excruciating for the listener to hear and we squirmed in discomfort and pain. Other stories were so delicate and sensitive, the thoughts so direct, we held back our tears,” added Lindy who was in town holding workshops on music copyright law.
Now a seed has been planted for talented and emerging writers from the Barkly to get together and work towards sharing their stories with the rest of Australia.
“The very idea of taking well-planned and inclusive writing retreats to areas that are often overlooked by funding bodies has seeded a kernel of hope for the literary minds of this region, I am sure,” said Yvette.
Pictures and Words by Ktima Heathcote
Copyright Barkly Regional Arts 2010
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