VIEW ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Story Week: Be Heard – Be Seen
The Story Week 2023 theme is Palimpsest: words erased but still visible beneath bold text.
Story Week is made of words that must be spoken;
not crossed out.
Verbs that shine through after years of rewrites.
Happy endings fueled by darkness.
Stories are layers of time and experience.
Stored memories
With languages that will not die
culture bursts through colonisation
Voices shout behind policy.
What stories were told before writing?
Feel landscapes rumble beneath concrete and steel.
Hillsides hide under mines.
Intentions behind smiles.
Story Week embraces all the ways we are heroes in our own narratives.
You, reading this, have stories to tell.
This is your space to fill and
listen to others pour their words into your ears; gestures into your eyes.
Gather for a celebration.
Venture out into the world.
Bring your head full of wild anecdotes
blossom like a giant Gymea lily
squeezing between concrete slabs on the M5.
Story Week imagines a series of crossed-out alternate names for this annual
celebration resulting in four programming themes:
· Story Weak – Talks and stories of vulnerability and weakness
· Story Work – Workshops and professional development
· Story Woke – Social justice conversations and performances
· Story Wick – Poetry slams and inspiring experiences
All of this to say: “Hey, you there! It’s time to Be Heard – Be Seen.
– Miles Merrill, Word Travels Creative Director
STORY WEEK PROGRAM
Story Week 2023 artwork – concepts: Miles Merrill, original photos: Nicola Bailey, design: Rachel Stone Art & Design
