WestWords- "Writing the West: Future Directions for Western Sydney’s Literary Culture"
The Western Sydney cultural landscape is undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. Significant forces in the visual arts, performing arts and literature are birthing artistic programs and projects that command and commandeer attention. It is, therefore, no better time to question, reform and consolidate the work happening here. The big question is how to begin reconstructing the meaning of literature in Western Sydney, and how this exciting change can produce creative freedom, direction, and growth in this large and important area of Sydney.
On the 4th of February 2016, attendees from established artistic and government sectors joined at Casula Powerhouse Art Centre (a central part of the Western Sydney area) to begin “writing the West in Western Sydney.” The aim of the conference was to expand the definition of Western Sydney’s unique literary landscape, and how limitations and stereotypical perceptions within the vast area can be broken by the creation of written, oral and visual literacy.
Crucial questions threaded into the day’s conversation included engaging and investigating with issues of the youth of Western Sydney, establishing connections with the community, and collaborations between multiple organisations across NSW; access to literary funding, and how we are able to express the integral transition of Western Sydney to be seen as a diverse cultural milieu. To start answering these mountainous issues, WestWords focused on intuition through collaboration by facilitating discussion not only on the positive and negatives of Western Sydney culture but also ideas on how to implement long-lasting creative connectivity. The main points I had taken away from this group effort was that we are constantly surrounded by the demand of physical resources (office spaces, educational facilities, work centers), and supplying creative outlets for disenfranchised youth. We are also inhibited by the lack of dimension in art and culture, global connections/communications, and the relationship and language of writing between individuals and communities. Western Sydney is host to not only global issues surrounding literary cultural but simply culture itself. Western Sydney’s challenges lie in the desperate need for easier access to space, increased funding in order to expand and achieve equality, the need for change in its stereotypical sporting culture, and the abolishment of economic language that seems determined to put a price tag on creative value.
By connecting together ideas, funding, social networks and artistic programs, we will be able to lift the tension between lack of resources and begin to raise the profile of literature in all areas of Western Sydney. If we are able to implement new and improved marketing campaigns, a stronger creative pedagogy in education can be formed, therefore redefining what it means to be a writer in the Western suburbs. As a representative of The Red Room Company, it was incredibly exciting to see a newly shifted focused into the importance of non-traditional spaces. Spaces which can hold poetry and artists collaborating with non-artists, to produce new perspectives- all starting from Western Sydney. The discussion ended with the promise of progression on these plausible solutions from WestWords. We are left with the simple request to keep talking about ideas with each other outside the seminar doors.
Not only as an intern/project assistant with The Red Room Company but simply as a member of the Western Sydney community, it is inspiring that WestWords has taken the initiative to start expanding on our literary culture. All this discussion has proven just how vital and important Western Sydney is in bringing entirely new perspectives to the Arts, allowing us to break away from damaging stereotypes. It is important that other areas of Sydney see the transitional form and growing potential in Western Sydney. This begins by continuing constructive discussion on the importance of literature with fellow organisations, communities and people.
The Red Room Company would like to thank WestWords for their innovative session on the creative growth of Western Sydney. We are excited to introduce The Disappearing as a collaborative project that has supported the commissioning of ten Western Sydney poets, who each express their personal perspective on the temporal and transience idea of places. In this way, The Disappearing allows for a meaningful understanding of the transitional nature of Western Sydney and places beyond.
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To find out more about The Disappearing click here.
To find out more about WestWords and other upcoming projects click here.
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Winnie Dunn is a volunteer at The Red Room Company. She is currently in her third year of studying a Bachelor of Arts Pathway to Secondary Teaching at Western Sydney University. She majors in English and sub-majors Modern History and Education. A sometimes blogger at winniereads.wordpress.com, she likes to spend most of her time reading books, people, and sometimes writing short stories, poems and plays if she's lucky.