talks measured in meters,
wind-torn. walking with friend.
said the play something
about silenced democracy.
~ Duy Quang Mai from 'Of Endings', 2019 Sweatshop poet

Recognising the deeply personal, yet universal, journey of mapping one's identity.

Red Room Poetry is proud to elevate the stories of a diverse range of voices through the bridging medium of poetry. The poems are commissioned and published by Red Room Poetry and edited by Sweatshop Manager, Winnie Dunn.

Following our first collaboration Speaking to the Suburbs – Writing from the West, 2018 we teamed up again with Sweatshop: Western Sydney Literacy Movement in 2019 and 2020 to deliver A Sweatshop in a Red Room. 

  • A Sweatshop in a Red Room 2020-Image-Poets red Room Poetry-Preview image.png

    A Sweatshop in a Red Room 2020

    Witness six new Sweatshop poets scream feral as, eye out HKs, go dodgy, adlay march, toss on gronks and fully mock-up as they respond to the theme of slang for A Sweatshop in a Red Room 2020.
  • A Sweatshop in a Red Room 2019-Image-Poets red Room Poetry-Preview image.png.png

    A Sweatshop in a Red Room 2019

    Exploring issues central to identity and sense of belonging, six poets navigate the landscapes of race and gender to create new poetic works for A Sweatshop in a Red Room.
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    Speaking to the Suburbs

    In 2018, Speaking the suburbs – Writing from the west sought to share the unique perspectives of people growing up and living in Sydney’s western suburbs.