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gawimarra (gather) under the watchful eyes of Our Story 2 balaagans skilled with time and wise with age – Key Achievements 3 custodians of place – keepers of the secrets of From Our Patron 4 wingadhan (women) From Our Director 5 Our Team 6 teaching the young minhis and mingaans Poetic Projects 10 the lore of the land… Poetic Moments 10 ...– gawimarra only what is needed – Extinction Elegies 12 New Shoots 13 gawimarra to birrabuwawanha – Red Room Poetry Fellowship 14 birrabuwawanha to gawimarra Poetic Learning 16 gather to return – return to gather Poetry Object 18 Poetry In First Languages 19 She listens – gawimarra stories – A Diversity Of Poets 20 reads them in the land she walks ‘Wagirra softly’ the balaagans tell her – IC P ET RO tread carefully on Country they say – O G P R 9 A ‘Balumbambal always watching’ – 1 M 0 the ancient ones – dead but not gone – 2 their blood flows through us –

gawimarra us listen – the dead speak all the time… 2 0 T 1 R 8 — Jeanine Leane ‘The Gatherers’ O AN E P Poetry in First Languages (Wiradjuri) NUAL R

Key Achievements 24 Poetic Projects 26 Poetic Moments 26 Extinction Elegies 28 New Shoots 29 Red Room Poetry Fellowship 30 Poetic Learning 31 Poetry Object 32 Poems To Share 33 Poetry In First Languages 34 Poetry In First Languages Evaluation 35 Unlocked and Youth Unlocked 36 Poetic Partnerships 38 Our Supporters 40 Media 42 Financials 44 Artwork & Design: Billy Blue Creative OUR STORY KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Ngabay midyungngunbuni ngaliya Together, you and I, we will heal — Joel Davison ‘The Wounded Brave’ Poetry in First Languages (Gadigal)

VISION 70+ Red Room Poetry’s vision is to make poetry POETIC 16 years major projects a meaningful part of everyday life. PROJECTS MISSION INVENTION, QUALITY Red Room Poetry (RR) is a national not-for- AND VISIBILITY 240 partners 950+ profit organisation that creates poetic projects poets commissioned Poetic Moments and employed and learning programs in collaboration with a Extinction Elegies spectrum of poets, schools, communities and New Shoots partners for positive social impact. RR Poetry Fellowship Our mission is to make poetry accessible to all, especially those who face the greatest barriers to creative opportunities. POETIC HISTORY 860,000+ Since 2003, RR has grown to be Australia’s LEARNING digital reach p.a. leading organisation for the creation and ENRICHMENT, INCLUSION commissioning of new poetry. Reflecting AND PARTICIPATION the diversity of contemporary Australian Poetry Object voices, RR embraces all styles of poetry Poems To Share II (page, performance, experimental, musical, Poetry In First Languages visual) promoting the form across a range Unlocked / Youth Unlocked of landscapes, languages and mediums including installation, radio, stage, digital spaces and learning programs. students200,000+ actively engaged programs21 in POETIC correctional centres From poetic pathways to murals and mapping apps, our imaginative projects increase poetic PARTNERSHIPS visibility, vibrancy and engagement through COLLABORATION, REACH creative contexts, professional payment of AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT poets and cross-sector partnerships. All RR projects and learning programs collaborate with Cultural, Environmental, Learning, Corporate, Media and Government partners. 450 4.3 schools p.a. million audiences p.a.

2 2019 POETIC PROGRAM FROM OUR PATRON FROM OUR DIRECTOR

the patient ground will sing as the box opens the sky rejoices like a web of notes and birds gather from everywhere and o those brilliant bones of paperbark — Ali Cobby Eckermann — Stuart Cooke ‘Wind Song Lament’ ‘Northern Long-nosed Potoroo’ Extinction Elegies Extinction Elegies

Poetry in First Languages East Nowra PS at Bundanon. Image Tad Souden

City eagles fly above the clouds Over the years I have seen, and even written, Language and poetry web our world and That shroud the mobile ants in many annual reports. The Red Room Poetry relationships with culture, place and creation. report is different, for while it fulfils statutory Fogged in stares obligations, it swerves wide of conformity to Celebrating diverse voices in the International Oblivious to daily life provide something of the flavour with which we Year of Indigenous Languages, Red Room Poetry deal on a regular basis. For me the association is amplifying poetic visibility and participation via Ready for the unknown with an organisation that dwells on poetic themes installations in gardens, galleries, zoos, museums, With Arnhem Land sounds and words, is a panacea in a world increasingly at and a national program of workshops. As a shaft of light odds with itself. Poems allow expressions of both With skies full of poetic possibilities, we also Strikes us awake truth and imagination – they are the canvas upon reflect on the meaningful moments of 2018, a year which we can dwell, interpret and absorb. that saw RR commission 93 poets, deliver 179 And the day dawns Poetry in First Languages No work is ever complete without support tools, poetic events, launch , With a poem and I, as always, am deeply grateful for the many while publishing poems in cinemas, trains, buses, All is forgiven individuals and contributors who allow Red Room waterways, murals and lightboxes for audiences Poetry to reach into the creative spectrum of of 4.3 million. our nation in so many ways. It is important this Thanks to our generous supporters, partners and continues and I encourage continuing commitment — John B. Fairfax poetic communities who make these achievements to enable our dedicated small team to further possible. On behalf of our Board and team I deliver poetic themes to encourage poets and warmly invite you to join us for another poetic year put poetry at the forefront of our arts and that awakens wonder, cherishes language and literary agenda. nurtures new Australian poetry.

JOHN B. FAIRFAX AO DR TAMRYN BENNETT Patron Director

i t u d s T h C y c l o a e a e t Poetry in First Languages Gadigal workshop. g l t h s Image Tad Souden e s f a b o v e h l y r o u d a n t s t h e m o b i l e

4 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 5 dissolves the distance between our best sides; the most honest aesthetic one can affect a picture-perfect profile to repeat on command until all that’s left is to confess:

I am not a singular instrument — Allison Gallagher ‘Portrait no 29’ Punch Lines: Poets Play Duchamp

OUR TEAM

PATRON STAFF John B. Fairfax AO Director Dr Tamryn Bennett

Director External Relations BOARD Sally Marwood Acting Chair Judith Pini Director Operations Jennine Primmer Treasurer Craig Lawn Manager Poetic Learning Kirli Saunders Board Members Johanna Featherstone Producer Poetic Learning Kiersten Fishburn Emma Rose Smith Andrew FitzSimons Communications Coordinator Mary Gillespie Amelia Theodorakis Jacob Morris, Gumea Observership Program Office Manager Dharawal Language Nathan Barker Lorin Reid Custodian opens poetic workshops on country. and our dedicated volunteers Image Tad Souden 6 7 New Shoots WA with poet performance and Q & A. Image Jason Thomas

2019 POETIC PROGRAM

In human time we will have shed whole versions of ourselves before one leaf dislodges from its stem… — Nandi Chinna ‘Sweedman’s Sprawling Mallee’ New Shoots WA 2019 POETIC PROJECTS w o r l d o a f s i s o E e s u Celebrating a diversity of established, With support from our partners we aim to amplify v e e c i n d emerging and student voices, our 2019 poetic participation, visibility and relevance across r y s p Poetic Projects cultivate invention, creation communities, cultures, languages and landscapes and collaboration via a range of poetic forms. nationally and internationally.

POETIC MOMENTS EXTINCTION ELEGIES NEW SHOOTS RR POETRY FELLOWSHIP

2019 POETIC MOMENTS

JAN MAY SEP - OCT

Poetic Moments (PM) engages experimental —— First Nations poetry on Sydney trains —— Punch Lines: —— Flow Bundjalung poems from Poetry in platforms to publish poetry in highly visible and —— Poetry Object animation screened in Poets Play First Languages workshops embedded in accessible ways for audiences of all ages. NSW, QLD, VIC and NT cinemas with Duchamp poetic waterways in Ballina Val Morgan exhibition labels and —— Poetry on the Block pop-up installation along Embracing multiple languages, inventive cryptic crossword platforms and artforms, PM creates —— Cookaroo Flow - poems from George Street tram line featuring student with the Art Gallery poems inspired by Sydney city opportunities to respond and reflect via poetic Poetry in First Languages workshops of NSW for Sydney —— New Shoots WA poetic trail on plant tags at provocations and partnerships that connect embedded in waterways at Royal Writers’ Festival people and place through poetry. Botanic Garden Sydney Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth 3. Poetic Moments is made possible by Australia Council for the Arts and our generous partners. APR JUL DEC —— New Shoots at —— Extinction Elegies —— Poetry Object animation Sydney Olympic Park lightbox installation screened in cinemas with site-specific in situ for MUSE at across Australia Taronga Zoo, Sydney 1. Cookaroo Flow interactive audio installation. First Nations poems —— First Nations Poetry Anthology 2. Punch Lines: Poets Play Duchamp poetic labels etched permanently —— Eco-poetry projected with linked learning resources and performance at Art Gallery of NSW. into the Badu in Perth for NAIDOC 3. Poetic crosssword Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Mangrove Boardwalk Week 1. 2.

10 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 11 2019 EXTINCTION ELEGIES 2019 NEW SHOOTS

Every species is a world I am a hollow chamber Of sound, a solid form of silence said. there is no wind to sing me A body swept clean, draughty and shifting Of thought. my body’s shell casting new shadows — Mark Tredinnick — Renee Pettitt-Schipp ‘Litany: An Elegy’ ‘Karri (or, Slow Arrival in Karri Country)’ Extinction Elegies New Shoots WA New Shoots WA poets. Image Jason Thomas Jason poets. Image WA Shoots New

RR is collaborating with Durham University and Poems will be published by Little Toller Book with New Shoots, created by RR in 2016, cultivates “I hope that by poets paying attention to mallee Little Toller Books to develop a series of trans- radio broadcasts, conference presentations, poetic poetry inspired by plants to deepen our creative trees, and teaching kids to engage with the wonder national poetic commissions entitled Extinction workshops and call out opportunities. and cultural connections with nature by growing and uniqueness of our mallee, that these miraculous Elegies. The project explores literatures of a garden of poems across Australia. species will have a more hopeful future.” environment and loss through the creation of AUSTRALIAN POETS —— Nandi Chinna new elegies in response to recent extinctions of Bruce Pascoe, Ali Cobby Eckermann, With support from Eucalypt Australia and City fauna and flora. We aim to encourage awareness, Michelle Cahill, Mark Tredinnick, John Kinsella, of Perth, five WA poets are writing and recording attention, empathy and action through poetry Stuart Cooke new poems about mallee species, sites and “I hope that what I have delivered and planted in writing and linked learning resources. ecosystems in WA and Kings Park. the garden of poems will help to nourish the overall Poetic trails and performances are part of Perth landscape. I feel that my poetic credentials have Festival in February and Kings Park Festival in been verified.” September. Poetic seed cards are scattered and poems will be planted in Kings Park. —— Luke Sweedman

POETS Nandi Chinna, Daniel Hansen, Luke Sweedman, Renee Pettitt-Schipp, Scott-Patrick Mitchell

Mark Tredinnick commissioned poet. Image Christopher Phillips

12 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 13 2019 RED ROOM POETRY FELLOWSHIP

Too many years since I breathed this air - Bunyi-ng – ganha Felt this dirt – Ngamanhi Dhaagun Smelt this dust – Budha – nhi Bunan — Jeanine Leane ‘Nurambang Yali Country speaks’ Poetry in First Languages (Wiradjiri)

Jeanine Leane, 2019 Fellow.

The Red Room Poetry Fellowship recognises the THE FELLOW RECEIVES: achievements and artistic goals of contemporary —— $5000 poetic stipend Australian poets previously commissioned by RR. —— $1000 commission Our 2019 Fellow, Jeanine Leane, was chosen —— 2 x weeks residency at Bundanon Trust by an expert Arts panel from 33 entries. In response to the high quality of Fellowship —— Opportunity to undertake an intensive period of submissions we also offered poetic commissions writing, professional development, publication to shortlisted poets aligned with the theme of their and workshop delivery. proposed project. The Fellowship is made possible with support from Our inaugural Fellow was internationally awarded generous individuals and Bundanon Trust. Yankunytjatjara poet Ali Cobby Eckermann, followed by the inimitable Candy Royalle in 2018. “This project seeks to give some voice back to Aboriginal places that are screaming to be heard under the colonial mythscape of settler monuments, plaques and signage.” —— Jeanine Leane S m e l t t h i s t B u d h a n h d u s i Warrawong Public School student B Victoria with her poem in u Dharawal on Illawarra buses. n Image Tad Souden a 14 2019 POETIC PROGRAM n Caption 2019 POETIC LEARNING

The manda is a calm place that welcomes you to the land Gundu at nighttime Djadjun lights the way — Ella, Warrawong Public School, Poetry in First Languages (Dharawal)

m p l a c e c a l t a h a T s t h i POETRY OBJECT POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES e n d a w e m a l c o m e s . . .

Poetry in First Languages Dharawal workshops with art, music and dance. RR’s Poetic Learning programs “Thank you again for such a fantastic Image Todd Hardingham OUR 2019 inspire students, teachers and workshop. I have heard nothing but GOALS diverse communities to actively positive feedback from the kids about create, perform and publish poetry. the day and I love that you were able We enliven learning through poetry to bring out such creativity and more by inviting contemporary poets to importantly, connection to culture in lead writing workshops that awaken everyone involved.” workshops200+ curiosity, nurture creativity and nationally —— Alexandra Bateman, English support cultural opportunities. Teacher, Moss Vale HS

“It was the best experience I have professional8 ever had. Now I know more development w about culture.” sessions —— Student, North Nowra PS, Poetry in First Languages

poets,130+ artists, Elders and Language Custodians employed and mentored

16 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 17 2019 POETRY OBJECT 2019 POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES

Escape hatch from … the guwung is your wiyanga gura, urbanity. Bird hide, forced crouch Yanung over you. sunrise sauna, portable hole, The sun is your mother warming, modesty screen, refuge …. Looking over you. — Jacqui Malins — Biwali, Alexandria Park ‘To My Tent’ Community School, Poetry Object Poetry in First Languages (Gadigal)

Scott-Patrick Mitchell at Art Gallery of NSW. Students in Poetry in First Languages Gadigal workshops. Hil maioriate vent optaquunt ut Imagelabo. Nicola Hil Bailey maioriate vent optaquunt ut labo. Hil maioriate vent optaquunt ut labo. Hil maioriate ventImage optaquunt Tad Souden ut labo. Itatem que nonse doloriae asim Itatem que nonse doloriae asim Itatem que nonse doloriae asim Itatem que nonse doloriae asim wwwwwwwwww00 volent eiur apide pore disciatas volent eiur apide pore disciatas volent eiur apide pore disciatas volent eiur apide pore disciatas wwwwww iunt, volutestis sim quid mosse iunt, volutestis sim quid mosse iunt, volutestis sim quid mosse iunt, volutestis sim quid mosse OUR 2019 RR’sacere Poetry pore velicab Object orrovit, (PO) project totat is acereOur 2019 pore PO velicab partners orrovit, include totat Art Developedacere pore byvelicab Gunai orrovit, poet Kirlitotat Togetheracere pore with velicab our First orrovit, Nations totat OUR 2019 PO GOALS Australasia’sexeriam volutectem largest fugit,free national nobitatur, exeriamGallery of volutectem NSW, Museum fugit, nobitatur,of Applied Saundersexeriam volutectem and delivered fugit, by nobitatur, RR, Advisoryexeriam volutectem Council, RR fugit, is celebrating nobitatur, PIFL GOALS poetryculparumenes competition solorecat. for students and culparumenesArts and Sciences, solorecat. National Gallery Poetryculparumenes in First Languagessolorecat. (PIFL) theculparumenes Year of Indigenous solorecat. Languages teachers (Years 3-10). Since 2011, of Australia, National Museum celebrates, shares and preserves and embracing NAIDOC’s theme POHil maioriate has ignited vent imaginations optaquunt whileut labo. “I’mof Australia, a quote Regionalor interview Express, in the text knowledgeHil maioriate of vent First optaquunt Nations languages ut labo. Voice“I’m a Treatyquote Truth.or interview in the text wwwwww fosteringItatem que the nonse creation doloriae and publicationasim butCopyright not a poetry Agency extract!” and the Oranges andItatem culture que nonsethrough doloriae poetry, asim music, but not a poetry extract!” wwwwwwwwww00 school180+ communities 35 ofvolent 15,000+ eiur apide student pore and disciatas teacher and Sardines Foundation. dancevolent eiurand apideart. By pore connecting disciatas “On behalf of my family I wanted workshopswwwwww in engaged across —— First Last Names, —— First Last Names, poemsiunt, volutestis about special sim quid ‘talismanic’ mosse Firstiunt, Nationsvolutestis students sim quid with mosse poets, to thank Kirli and everyone at RR 12 languages Australia and NZ Job title, Company Job title, Company objects.acere pore velicab orrovit, totat “Thanks for all the support and ways Eldersacere pore and Languagevelicab orrovit, Custodians totat for the opportunity to get our Great exeriam volutectem fugit, nobitatur, website.comyou make poetry vital in our school. onexeriam country, volutectem we aim tofugit, strengthen nobitatur, website.comGrandmother’s Language out Withculparumenes national partnerships solorecat. and over Red Room is a wonderful resource languageculparumenes learning solorecat. to empower there as these poems are the first $10,000 in prizes, Poetry Object and a fantastic opportunity.” students to feel pride in their cultural publications in Gumea-Dharawal; also provides professional publishing A historical moment for our family.” poets48 commissioned, student3,000+ poems —— John Cole, Burgmann Anglican identities and enhance wellbeing. outcomes for all participants, free publishedwwwwwwwwww00 and published School, Poetry Object —— Jacob Morris, Language curriculum-aligned learning resources Independent evaluation by BYG performingwwwwww Custodian (Gumea Dharawal) for teachers and the commissioning Group of the NSW PIFL pilot program wwwwwwwwww of new object-inspired poems by found 94% of participants were “After the workshop I felt like I had wwwwww professional poets who lead poetic positively impacted by the program learned a lot and came away with a learning workshops. and 95% of school communities 17+ different outlook on poetry.” poets and involved had no other access to First Elders,20 Language artists employed —— Student, Riverside Girls High, Nations language programs. Custodians, community poetry and circuitry workshops at See report p.35 00members wwwwwwwwww and artists Powerhouse Museum employedwwwwww audiences46,000+ engaged nationally via animation screenings

18 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 2019 POETIC PROGRAM 19 G u n d i g h t s u n l t h a j u e t n j a d w i g h e D a OUR POETS 2018-2019 t t i m y . . . Sydnye Allen NSW Nandi Chinna WA Luke Fischer NSW L.K Holt VIC Scott-Patrick Mitchell WA Maria Takolander VIC Richard James Allen NSW Ali Cobby Eckermann SA Toby Fitch NSW Yvette Holt NT Jacob Morris NSW Maureen Ten NSW Eunice Andrada NSW Claire G Coleman WA/VIC Lionel Fogarty QLD Eleanor Jackson VIC Lorna Munro NSW Mark Tredinnick NSW Evelyn Araluen NSW Paul Collis ACT Anna Forsyth NSW Anna Jacobson QLD Melanie Mununggurr-Williams NT Lindsay Urquhart NSW Sediqah Ansari NSW Stuart Cooke QLD Zenobia Frost QLD Gabrielle Journey Jones NSW Kevin Ngo NSW Ellen Van Neerven QLD David Astle VIC Emily Crocker NSW Brian Fuata NSW John Kinsella WA Bruce Pascoe VIC Arjun von Caemmerer TAS Maryam Azam NSW Arielle Cottingham TAS Declan Furber Gillick NT Benjamin Laird VIC Nick Paton NSW Adrian Webster NSW Emilie Zoey Baker VIC Joel Davison NSW Allison Gallagher NSW Jeanine Leane VIC Renee Pettitt-Schipp WA Anna Westbrook NSW Stuart Barnes QLD Joel Deaves NSW Joe Geia QLD Bella Li VIC Lillian Rodriguez-Pang NSW Scotty Wings QLD Ethan Bell NSW Gloria Demillo NSW Nikki Gemmel NSW Grace Lucas-Pennington QLD Candy Royalle NSW Alison Whittaker NSW Maxine Beneba Clarke VIC Tricia Dearborn NSW Mindy Gill QLD Caitlin Maling WA Sara Saleh NSW Jessica Wilkinson VIC Tamryn Bennett NSW Shastra Deo QLD Phoebe Grainer NSW Jacqui Malins ACT Kirli Saunders NSW Emily Wurramara NT Lilly Blue WA Winnie Dunn NSW Daniel Hansen WA Lola McDowell WA Courtney Sina Meredith NZ Elliot York Cameron NSW Susan Bradley Smith WA Quinn Eades VIC Matthew Heffernan NT MANTRA VIC Emma Rose Smith NSW Nadia Zeaiter NSW Nick Bryant Smith NSW Lorin Elizabeth NSW Johnathan Hill NSW Graeme Miles TAS Zechariah Soakai NZ Zohab Zee Khan NSW Pascalle Burton QLD Pola Fanous NSW Sarah Holland-Batt QLD Peter Minter NSW David Stavanger NSW Michelle Cahill NSW Michael Farrell VIC Josh Holmes NSW MIRRAH NSW Luke Sweedman WA Dakota Feirer NSW A DIVERSITY OF POETS

RR commissions, mentors and employs 90+ poets annually, spanning diverse styles, stages, places and languages. Our community of 950+ poets continues to grow.

Evelyn Araluen Arielle Cottingham Joel Davison

David Stavanger MIRRAH Bruce Pascoe Scott-Patrick Mitchell Maryam Azam Michelle Cahill Daniel Hansen 20 Poetry in First Languages Gadigal workshop at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Image Tad Souden

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

Soon you too will have a cap full of plumes, a head filled with wings, a horizon to fly into — Scott-Patrick Mitchell ‘on how to be a bird’ RR Fellowship shortlist 2018 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS m o u y t h f made of the earth, b u l l mouthful by mouthful f u t h — Michelle Cahill ‘Mal de la mer, o u m or I walked the island searching for you’ a d e h , Extinction Elegies m o f t h e e a r t

In 2018, RR supported poetic participation and nourished community connections, creating impact and change through imaginative projects poets93 commissioned, published and performed and meaningful cross-sector partnerships. From streaming poems through waterways to performing within medieval tapestries, we commissioned, projected, staged and published poetry in new and unexpected ways, providing an abundance 90+ 179 of poetic opportunities for artists and audiences. partners events With the launch of Poetry in First Languages we also focused on supporting and celebrating the poetic voices of First Nations communities through highly visible and inventive poetic installations like Tumbalong Gatherers at Darling Harbour and Cookaroo Flow at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. First Nations student poems enlivened 39 streetscapes and school communities in regional digital860,000 reach p.a. supporting artists towns via buses and murals while our independent and Language evaluation by BYP Group showed the project’s Custodians deep impact and value in 2019 and beyond.

“We still can’t stop buzzing from this incredible performance and project. An enormous thank you to you all for your dedication, talent, energy and attendees39,000 4,300,000 students7,350 actively words. Those tapestries will never be seen in the audiences across Australia creating same way again! You brought them to life in a way that moved people and opened up new ways of seeing and understanding.” —— Alexandra Gregg, Public Programs Producer Art Gallery NSW

24 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 25 2018 POETIC PROJECTS

POETIC MOMENTS EXTINCTION ELEGIES NEW SHOOTS RR POETRY FELLOWSHIP

2018 POETIC MOMENTS

JAN MAR ­— APR JUN AUG

Poetic Moments —— Poetry Object —— Poetry in First — T-shirts with Bundjalung language —— Secret Garden (PM) elevates Animation Languages celebrating Unlocked Balund-a nine metre mural the accessibility screened in launches with workshops and NAIDOC week at Zetland with and visibility of NSW, VIC and poems on murals with Corrective Services NSW MIRVAC contemporary TAS cinemas in Gundungurra Australian poetry, with Val Morgan language in Southern — Dharawal student poems from connecting people with 26.1K Highlands, NSW for Poetry in First Languages and place by audiences World Poetry Day workshops in the Illawarra publishing in inventive on buses 1. 3. and unexpected ways from buses to boardwalks, FEB MAY JUL DEC lightboxes and trains, —— Australian —— Poetic Threads: The Lady and the —— Poems to Share II learning resource Following Poetry in First Languages murals, soundscapes Design Centre Unicorn in collaboration with Art Gallery with 40 poets and workshop (Gadigal) workshops at Royal and sculptural ‘Obsessed’ of NSW and Sydney Writers’ Festival. activities launched in partnership Botanic Garden Sydney, Gadigal installations. exhibition with First Australian commission of poems with the Australian Association for poetry created by NT and NSW First commission, and performance inspired by the the Teaching of English. Nations students (with NASCA) was performance and centuries-long connection between the —— Tumbalong Gatherers First Nations embedded by artist Allan Giddy in 1. Student rap in Green workshops sensory tapestries and literature. poetry on lightboxes at Darling the Cookaroo Flow soundscape, 1 Square window. — Green Square and Alexandria Park Square and Darling Quarter with December 2018 - 28 February 2019 2. Tumbalong Gatherers for  NAIDOC Week with First Community Behavioural Intervention Twitter poetry writing competition —— Poetry Object animation screened Nations poems. School poems performed and on Sydney Trains for NAIDOC Week in NSW, QLD, NT and ACT 3. Moss Vale High School, displayed in window boxes at Green with Darling Quarter, LendLease, 2. cinemas with Val Morgan Poetry in First Languages. Square with MIRVAC Jones La Salle and Properties NSW.

26 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 27 2018 EXTINCTION ELEGIES 2018 NEW SHOOTS

And regret is that the bird is gone, Grief is rembetiko heard through an Disappeared open window Because we didn’t love enough? as the quandong Or because the angle of the sphere fruits at dusk— is out of our control — Sarah Holland-Batt ‘Blue Quandong’ — Bruce Pascoe ‘Loss’ New Shoots Cairns Extinction Elegies

2018 OUTCOMES Six Australian poets were “I was travelling through the The New Shoots garden of poems “My poetic adventures have just 2018 OUTCOMES commissioned to write new elegies Gariwerd country looking at the grew and flourished across Australia begun and I hope to continue in response to recent extinctions. trees altered by the old people for with workshops and plant-inspired influencing others through my words Exploring loss and longing, these ceremonial purposes and I kept poems at the Cairns Botanic and enabling them to find deeper poems will be broadcast and thinking of an azure kingfisher which Gardens as part of the Cairns meanings and purposes to their own published in 2019 in conjunction I had found dead after colliding with Tropical Writers Festival. lives and dreams.” poets9 6 with our trans-national partners a window the day before and so poets commissioned —— Akegma, Student, commissioned including Durham and Sheffield my thoughts were all about beauty, In Victoria we collaborated with OutLoud Eco! Slam winner Universities, Little Toller Books death and love.” Australian Poetry and Royal and The Centre for the History Botanic Gardens Victoria to pilot —— Bruce Pascoe, Bunurong poet of Emotions, and Community the OutLoud EcoSlam competition

3 Radio Network. with performances at the Melbourne international partners Writers Festival. New Shoots plant- workshops7 and events inspired poems were exhibited at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Victoria with community workshops. With support from our partners, we commissioned five WA poets to partners8 respond to mallee species in Kings Park and WA for 2019 performances with Perth Festival and Writers Week.

28 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 29 2018 RED ROOM POETRY FELLOWSHIP 2018 POETIC LEARNING

Each thread is its own story Like a cloudy everything woven sky in my heart. is first a lonely particle It breaks when I see it. — Candy Royalle — Jana ‘a picture of my brother’ ‘Threading Battle Lines’ Poetry Object Primary Winner RR Poetry Fellow

Candy Royalle Red Room Poetry Fellow 2018. Kangaroo Valley Public School poetry writing workshops.

2018 OUTCOMES Esteemed poet and activist Candy “The diversity of form shown in this In 2018 RR’s Poetic Learning “We had a great day with Gabrielle 2018 OUTCOMES Royalle was our 2018 Fellow. She shortlist is a great representation of programs connected poets with Journey Jones. Her ability to work performed with RR’s Poetic Threads: Australian poetry and what the Red school students, marginalised and with all our K-6 students was Lady and the Unicorn exhibition at Room Fellowship is doing to support remote communities and inmates to fantastic to observe. She had them the Art Gallery of NSW weeks before poets across styles, cultures and actively create, perform and publish all engaged with her rap introductions her untimely passing. RR, along with career stages. Some of Australia’s poetry for audiences nationally. and drumming and was able to help school350 communities poets11 commissioned Candy’s family and friends, created a most experimental, engaging and the students make a connection to nationally, 66% regional 200+ poetic workshops were film, ‘A Thousand Tiny Awakenings’ hardworking poets are listed here our trees, and places special to the and remote capturing her enduring personal and and each of them is defining poetry delivered, employing and matching students in the Valley.” poetic legacy. on their own terms.” poets and artists to communities. Key Poetic Learning programs —— Andrew Smee, Principal, In response to the high quality —— Fellowship Judging Panel were Poetry Object, Poetry in First Kangaroo Valley PS poems15 published of Fellowship submissions, 11 Languages, New Shoots, the RR 8,234+ shortlisted poets were also offered a Fellowship, Unlocked and were students and poetic commission aligned with the tailored to meet participant needs. teachers theme of their proposed project for the Fellowship. NESA accredited professional development workshops and Shortlisted poets included Emilie resources supported poetry Zoey Baker, Michael Farrell, Zenobia creation within educational contexts. poems3,277 published Frost, LK Holt, Jill Jones, Jeanine Leane, Graeme Miles, Scott-Patrick Mitchell, Maria Takolander and Omar Sakr.

employment137 opportunities

30 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 31 2018 POETRY OBJECT 2018 POEMS TO SHARE II

This bird statue has flown down Held by mostly mountains now the generations You wear crowns of returning eucalpyt and landed at my doorstep. — Evelyn Araluen — Shyam ‘My Inheritance’ ‘K1: Yellowmundee’ Poetry Object Regional Express Winner Poems to Share II

Poetry Object workshops. ImageTawfik Elgazzar

2018 OUTCOMES From music boxes to miniature cows, “I had forgotten how terrific poetry Created in partnership with the “One of the benefits is with teachers 2018 OUTCOMES maps to puppy teeth, Poetry Object is. What amazing little philosophers Australian Association for the who just aren’t sure about, or lack 2018 published poems you have showcased!” Teaching of English (AATE), confidence in identifying poetic via animations, on trains and in Poems to Share II features 40 poetic technique. The resource (P to S II) —— Joanne Patrick, Corporate imaginative ways to encourage activity cards to spark poetic creation does this brilliantly. I’m suggesting Communications Manager, students and teachers to create and learning in classrooms, libraries it also as gift for graduating and schools180 across Regional Express (Rex) poets,40 students and poetry inspired by special objects. and community. An extended digital farewelling teachers because it is Australasia teachers commissioned resource is free with purchase. both beautiful and practical. It’s a As Australasia’s largest free poetry brilliant resource, and I love the mix of “Thanks so much for this competition with $10,000+ in Inspired by Poetry Object poets, especially the Australian kids.” prizes, we presented multi-lingual opportunity for our students. They commissioned poets, student and 2,526 workshops and professional are so excited at the thought that teacher poems, this interactive —— Rosie Kerin, independent student and teacher they are being published widely. education consultant development, commissioned six new resource was designed to support teachers1,025+ engaged poems published You are doing a fabulous job. You poets, designed accredited learning educators to deepen poetic at AATE national are giving young writers a sense resources and collaborated with engagement, encourage imaginative conference national partners across Arts, that their work is valuable.” thinking and ensure alignment with Culture and Science sectors. key curriculum outcomes through —— Michele Armstrong, Teacher, 15 language, literature and literacy. partners including Aquinas College Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Applied sales500+ Arts and Sciences

audiences26,100 engaged T h i s nationally via animation b screenings i r d w n t h s d o e t a o w n g 32 t u e h a s f l e 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 33 n e r a t i o n s 2018 POETRY IN FIRST LANGUAGES EVALUATION water, grass, hearing things In 2018, RR commissioned an independent “To see the kid’s faces when they can’t write poetry we see water like sky evaluation of our Poetry in First Languages let alone write poetry in language then coming (PIFL) pilot program by BYP Group. Key findings out with a piece of poetry that has language in it kwaty, atherrken, awepwarm of this report inform PIFL and all aspects of and has meaning behind it for them individually, nwern arem kwaty alkerater RR’s Poetic Learning programs for future that’s the gratitude I get from this project… expansion and improvement. Sharing language, empowering all kids of the next — Emmanual, Laramba School, NT generation to be proud of Aboriginal languages.” Find out more: Poetry in First Languages (Arrernte) redroomcompany.org/projects/ —— Aunty Jodi Edwards, Dharawal Custodian poetry-first-languages/

EXECUTIVE

Gadigal workshop at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. SUMMARY Image Tad Souden THE NEED PIFL addresses a clear gap in the educational For the Elders, poets and Custodians involved in and cultural offer for First Nations students the program, PIFL was deeply affirming of culture in NSW. The program was a one-of-kind and language, and offered hope that these would opportunity for almost all of the First Nations be passed on to the next generation. participants. 95% of the schools and 2018 OUTCOMES Poetry in First Languages (PIFL) Comprising mentors from the communities involved in PIFL had no other is led by First Nation poets to education, business, language, access to First Nations language programs. THE PROCESS nurture intercultural dialogue that poetry, literature and cultural Participants reported a positive experience of the unpacks shame, encourages sectors, RR’s First Nations Advisory process, and many hoped to do the program cultural exploration and connection Council was established to provide THE EXPERIENCE again. When asked what they liked about the First24 Nations poets, with country. Elders and Language mentorship for Kirli Saunders while The overwhelming majority of participants program, 54% reported that they liked the sense Elders and Language Custodians are supported to share supporting culturally responsible reported a positive experience of the program of connecting with Country, Elders and poets. Custodians employed Aboriginal languages and culture engagement with communities (94%). Participants learned new First Nations through poetry and the creative arts. and the optimum delivery of language skills, cultural knowledge, and how PIFL programs. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS Led by Gunai poet and Manager of to express themselves through poetry. The fun Poetic Learning, Kirli Saunders, in “You’ve opened my eyes and engaging nature of the program meant that BYP Group recommends that PIFL be continued First366 Nations students 2018 we piloted programs with First And shown me the way students transitioned from ‘unsure’ or ‘nervous’ and deepened to allow longer or repeat engaged Nations students from 39 school To look... To learn... To teach....” at the start of the workshop to happy, ‘loud and engagement with the program by students, communities with commissioned proud’ by the end. and expanded to reach more communities. We —— Shane, Kelly, Matthew and published poetry in 11 First recommend that Red Room Poetry: Nations languages. Participants of Reconciliation Conference, UOW THE IMPACT —— Maintain the model of working closely with Our Reconciliation Action Plan was Elders, Language Custodians and poets 300 The program instilled confidence about their poems published endorsed and a new partnership with and continue to use multiple poetic artforms language, identity and culture, in First Nations Reconciliation Australia formed. ranging across dance, poetry and all the children. Many participants shifted from feeling a creative arts general disinterest and lack of confidence at the start of the day, to feeling engaged, confident —— Continue to publish and perform the poetic and more knowledgeable about themselves works of poets and students, as this amplifies and their culture by the end of the workshop. the sense of pride and self-value experienced audiences300,000+ Some children discovered family relationships as by participants a result of the workshop, and are continuing to —— Continue to hold programs offsite in locations deepen these connections. which allow for outdoor activities and connection with nature and Country

34 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 35 Student recordings 2018 UNLOCKED AND YOUTH UNLOCKED Cookaroo Flow interactive audio installation. Image Tad Souden When I walk in the streets of the Green Square hood, once where old factories and warehouses stood Fresh apartments, just ‘cause they could — Green Square School ‘Green Square, What’s Good?’ Youth Unlocked

Smoking ceremony Unlocked Balund-a.

2018 OUTCOMES Unlocked, endorsed by Corrective “Seeing the residents engage in Services NSW, supported an the programs is great; they all intensive one-week creative literacy usually stand back, for feelings of program with poets, musicians and shame, but when one is engaged … artists at Balund-a Diversionary volunteer for dancing; as this requires Centre for NAIDOC Week. With the confidence and also feeling ‘safe’. Youth35 Unlocked aim to reduce reoffending through As for the poems, they were also students improved self-expression and great, as it comes from what they’ve wellbeing, workshops culminated been through themselves and it’s in performances, recordings their interpretation of their lives.” and broadcasts on national and —— Michael Cain, Coordinator, community radio. Program support Unlocked Unlocked22 inmates Youth Unlocked successfully Balund-a (90% First Nations) delivered workshops in Shepherds Park Juvenile Justice Centre with support from Wagga Wagga Council and at Green Square Behavioural School with performances of the rap at MIRVAC’s Social Corner in Unlocked120+ community inner Sydney.

Endorsed by Corrective Services NSW G r f t h e e e n S q t s o u a r r e e e h W e s t o o h e n i n t h d . 36 2018 ANNUAL REPORT I w a l k . . 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 37 2018 POETIC PARTNERSHIPS

t o r s RR values our poetic partners and is o r a deepening collaborations to cultivate creative a b communities, increase audience engagement l l o and collective impact. c “Quote quote quote quote quote quote quote We would especially like to thank our d quote quote quote quote quote quote quote n partners, poets, artists and all the creatives a quote quote quote quote quote quote quote who encourage and inspire us. s quote quote quote quote quote quote quote e r quote quote quote” + p o e t i c p a r t n 9 0 —— First Last Names, Job title, Company

EDUCATION Aboriginal Education Council, ACE Community College, Australian Association for the Teaching of English, Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, Centre for the History of Emotions, Durham 90+ MEDIA University, English Teacher Associations nationally, Illawarra Multicultural poetic partners and collaborators ABC, ABC Radio wwwwwwwwww Services, Miromaa Language Centre, National Aboriginal Sporting National & Central 00wwwwwwwwww wwww Chance Academy, NESA, NYU Sydney, Questacon, QUT, Reconciliation West, Bay FM, wwwwww wwwwwwwwwwAustralia and NSW, Department of Education and school communities Community wwwwwwwwww nationally, Northern Rivers TAFE, UOW, UNSW, USYD, UTS, WSU Broadcasting wwwwwwwwww wwww Association of wwwwww wwwwwwwwww CULTURE Australia, Express AIME, Australian Design Centre, Art Gallery Media, Go Transit of Western Australia, Art Gallery of NSW, Media, Kabuku PR, Australian Poetry, Bankstown Arts Centre Kookie, Koori Mail, & Poetry Slam, black&write!, Booranga Koori Radio, Morey GOVERNMENT Writers Centre, Bundanon Trust, Cairns Media, Sydney Aboriginal Affairs NSW, Australian Council Tropical Writers Festival, Casula Powerhouse, Arts Guide, The for the Arts, City of Sydney, Copyright Digital Writers’ Festival, Enough Said Planthunter, Agency, Corrective Services NSW, Poetry Slam, Melbourne Writers Festival, S&J Media, Torch Create NSW, Office of Environment and Merrigong Theatre Company, National Media Heritage NSW, Illawarra, City of Perth, Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Shoalhaven, Wagga Wagga, Wingecarribee Australia, Northern Rivers Arts Centre, NT wwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwww Shire, Wollongong City Councils, NSW, Writer’s Centre, NZ Poetry Day, Museum of wwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwww Queensland State Libraries, UNESCO Applied Arts and Sciences, Perth Festival, CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT Perth Writers Week, Queensland Poetry Corban & Blair, EY Foundation, Darling Quarter, Eucalypt Australia, Eden Gardens, Kings Park Festival, Sculpture by the Sea, South Coast Laureate Design - Billy Blue, Jones La Salle, 00and Botanic Garden, Royal Botanic Garden Writers Centre, Sweatshop, Sydney Writers’ LendLease, Magabala Books, Mirvac, Regional and Domain Trust (Sydney, Mount Annan Festival, Taronga Zoo, Young Writers Festival, Express, Val Morgan and Mount Tomah Gardens), Royal Botanic Wollongong Art Gallery, Word in Hand, Gardens Victoria (Cranbourne Gardens), WordTravels Sydney Olympic Park

2018 ANNUAL REPORT 39 G u n Celebration with poet Lorna Munro d u 10 week Yala Gari workshops with First Nations students at a t Alexandria Park Community School. n i g h t t i i g h m e D j a d j u n l t s t h e

w a y . . .

OUR SUPPORTERS

With thanks to our supporters who enable KEY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS KEY SUPPORTERS FRIENDS meaningful poetic projects. Your gift nurtures ($100,000+) ($1000 - $5000) future generations of Australian poets. Australia Council for the Arts Create NSW Oranges & Sardines Foundation Andrew Cameron Family Foundation To help others find their voice and John B. Fairfax AO Antoinette Albert create poetic pathways to learning and Robert Albert AO employment consider making a tax GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS Margaret Ann Arnott MAJOR SUPPORTERS deductible gift to RR. Aboriginal Affairs NSW Jennifer P Beran ($25,000 - $50,000) Phillip Boulten SC To donate, contact 02 9319 5090 or visit: UNESCO City of Sydney Bret Walker SC Shaneen Crouch redroomcompany.org/support Office of Environment & Heritage NSW Copyright Agency Liz Cuninghame City of Perth, Shoalhaven, Wagga Wagga City Sue Cuninghame and Wingecarribee Shire Councils Jacq Miguel SUPPORTERS Nick Fairfax ($10,000 - $25,000) Doc Ross Foundation MAJOR SPONSORS Andrew FitzSimons Ernst Young Foundation Craig and Joy Lawn Royal Botanic Garden and Domain Trust Eucalypt Australia Judith Pini Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Graeme Wood Foundation Paul Ruiz Art Gallery of NSW Nelson Meers Foundation EFS Foundation Lendlease Tim Game SC Mirvac 40 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 41 2018 MEDIA

DIGITAL REACH 860,000+

WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS 232,177

FACEBOOK REACH 338,457

TWITTER IMPRESSIONS 296,400 TheWire

INSTAGRAM REACH 21,289

YOUTUBE 10,420

RADIO, TV, PRINT & DIGITAL MENTIONS 147 ABC TV The Mix

Tumbalong Gatherers light boxes sharing First Nations poems for NAIDOC Week in Darling Daily Telegraph Square and Darling Quarter. 42 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 FINANCIALS

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENT OF POSITION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 AS AT 31 DEC 2018

YEAR YEAR YEAR YEAR ENDED 31 ENDED 31 ENDED 31 ENDED 31 DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER NOTES 2018 2017 NOTES 2018 2017

Donations and non-government grants 16 362,725 287,391 ASSETS Government grants 380,908 332,911 Cash and cash equivalents 6 239,220 460,954 Other revenue 4 93,333 83,081 Trade and other receivables 8 30,938 63,549

TOTAL REVENUE 836,966 703,383 Other financial assets 7 365,116 354,926 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 635,274 879,429 Contractors and employee expenses (478,532) (379,588) Poetry commissions and appearance fees (85,401) (64,410) Plant and equipment 9 4,232 6,960

Production costs (29,034) (61,672) TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 4,232 6,960 Rental expenses (27,380) (24,453) TOTAL ASSETS 639,506 886,389 Consumables and office expenses (6,120) (9,789)

Publicity and promotion (94,756) (68,650) LIABILITIES – CURRENT Accounting and audit (33,801) (32,433) Trade and other payables 10 37,245 58,373 Insurances (10,284) (8,726) Deferred revenue 11 183,626 492,717 Travel costs (10,096) (18,790) Employee entitlements 12 23,910 16,551

Repairs and maintenance (668) (627) TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 244,781 567,641 Depreciation expenses 9 (2,728) (2,964) NON-CURRENT Other expenses (4,712) (3,631) Employee entitlements 12 10,174 - RESULTS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 53,454 27,650 TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 10,174 - Financial income 5 12,349 9,705 TOTAL LIABILITIES 254,955 567,641 SURPLUS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 65,803 37,355 NET ASSETS 384,551 318,748 Income tax expense - -

SURPLUS AFTER INCOME TAX EXPENSE 65,803 37,355 EQUITY Accumulated surplus 384,551 318,748 TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR 65,803 37,355 THE YEAR TOTAL EQUITY 384,551 318,748

Full audited financials available on request [email protected] 44 2018 ANNUAL REPORT RED ROOM POETRY The Red Room Company PO Box 1105 Surry Hills NSW 2010 02 9319 5090 [email protected] ABN 35 103 464 446 redroomcompany.org

RED ROOM POETRY CELEBRATES 2019 AS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES