Project overview & calendar
This 12 month project focuses on celebrating the diversity of cultures and languages in Esperance. It is led by a Cultural Advisory Group made up of community members from a range of different backgrounds and areas of expertise, many of whom have personal experiences of migration (their own and/or their close family members).
The program features 4 Artists-in-Residence who use different forms of storytelling in their work. Yann Toussaint, a nature writer based in Albany is collaborating with Traditional Custodian Jennell Reynolds, a Kepa Kurl Wudjari artist and Tjaltjraak Ranger, to explore different types of connection to place. Sukhjit Khalsa, Perth-based spoken word poet and oral storytelling facilitator uses performance to share important stories about identity, racism, feminism and the power of uncomfortable conversations. Perdita Phillips lives in Fremantle and worksacross many mediums including walking, mapping, drawing, sculpture, digital art, installations, ephemeral outdoor works/situations (eclogues), photographs, videos, book art, sound installations and spatial sound, found objects and collage. Her work focuses on environment , science and ecological relationships. Helen Seiver is a visual artist and sculptor based in Capel who explores environmental and cultural issues including identity, home and recollection.
Additional community-guided activities will also be incorporated into the project as it develops, (e.g a regular conversational language group).
“Our Stories” is a collaboration between Esperance Community Arts, Escare Incorporated, Esperance Public Library, 103.9 Hope Fm Esperance and Esperance community members. It is funded by DLGSC and Lotterywest as part of the Creative Communities COVID recovery program.
At the beggining of the program we asked this question to our advisory group:
What outcomes would you like to see from this program, for yourself, your family and for the Esperance Community?
These are their answers:
“Recognition that all cultures are equally important”
“Wider appreciation and acceptance of all cultures”
“Recognition that we are influenced by where we come from. That we should embrace our family cultures and know that it is okay to also accept new cultures and ideas while still retaining the old. We should not have to choose one over the other. We can be more open about sharing different culture with our community without fear or ignorance”
“Increased connection, increased acknoledgement of the diversity, increased understanding of differences and similarities, learning through stories”
“Create an interest in the community for the different cultures and offer a space for people to share what is special for them”
“Connecting with more latins, sharing our culture and learn from others”
“Educate Esperance on the beauty of diversity, the opportunity to learn from others, replacing fear and ignorance with respect and wonder”
“An increased awareness of people from many cultures contributing to the Esperance Community and following that an increased sense of belonging”
This is what we aimed with this program!
January
22nd Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt2): Birak – Caring for Country. Jennell Reynolds & Yann Toussaint (NB: Part 1, Kambarang, was held in November 2021)
23rd Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt2): Birak – Nurturing Nature. Yann Toussaint
February
18th Information Session – Cultural advisory Group
March
11th World of Words writing workshop 1 (7-12yrs) Yann Toussaint. Esperance Public Library
12th Six seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt3): Bunuru. Kepa – Water. Jennell Reynolds & Yann Toussaint.
13th Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt3): Bunuru. Cultural Importance of Water. Yann Toussaint.
12th Cultural Advisory Group Food & Culture meeting – with Yann Toussaint
15th – 21st Harmony Week event postponed until June 6th
April
14th Cultural advisory group meeting. Harmony week program planning.
9th-25th School holidays
22nd ABC One and All Workshop – ANZAC Poppies
Harmony week community event programmed for June 6th
May
13th World of words writing workshop 2 (7-12 years) Yann Toussaint. Esperance Public Library
14th Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt4): Djeren – Seasonal Indicators. Jennell Reynolds & Yann Toussaint
15th Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (pt4): Djeren – Changing Seasons. Yann Toussaint
16th Conversational Language Group at 10am at Esperance Community Arts
17th Nasjonaldagen. Norways Constitution Day
26th National Sorry Day. Australia
26th-29th Oral Storytelling workshops. Sukhjit Khalsa, Centre for Stories
30th Conversational Language Group at 10am at Esperance Community Arts
June
6th Taste of the World – Celebrating Multiculturalism. At CWA Hall.
13th Conversational Language Group at 10am at Esperance Community Arts.
23rd-26th Art of Eco-mapping workshop 1. Perdita Phillips
30rd-3rd Oral Storytelling workshops. Sukhjit Khalsa, Centre for Stories
July
3rd-10th NAIDOC Week
7th San Fermin (popular festivity in Pamplona, Spain)
13th Consultation. Helen Seiver
14th 10am-12pm ABC One and All sculpture workshop (all ages) Helen Seiver
14th 4pm Advisory Group Meeting (Meet Helen Siever)
15th 10am-3pm Sculpture Workshop / Open Studio Helen Seiver
15th 3.30-5pm World of words writing workshop 3 (7-12yrs) Yann Toussaint. Esperance Public Library
16th 10am – 1pm Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt5): Makuru – Cultural Corridors. Jennell Reynolds and Yann Toussaint.
16th 2.30 – 4.30 pm Sculpture Workshop / Open Studio Helen Seiver
17th 1-4pm Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt5): Makuru – Places of Cultural Significance. Yann Toussaint.
2nd-17th School holidays
TBC ABC One and All Holiday Program
28th – 31 Art of Eco-mapping workshop 2. Perdita Phillips
August
8th-31st? Book Sculpture Project & workshops – Helen Siever
8th – 12th ABC Resilience for Youth through Arts (school-based program)
26th World of Words writing workshop 4 (7-12yrs) Yann Toussaint. Esperance Public Library
27th – Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt6): Djilba – ‘New Life’. Jennell Reynolds & Yann Toussaint.
28th – Six Seasons, One Country, Many Stories (Pt6): Djilba – New Beginnings. Yann Toussaint.
September
20th-24th Esperance Wildflower Festival
24th-9th October School Holidays
TBC ABC One and All Holiday Program
October
9th – 16th Mental Health Week
17th, 24th & 31st – Flow Into. Michelle Vallejos Dance Lessons. Block 1
November
2nd Día de Muertos. Day of the Dead, national festivity in Mexico
7th – Flow Into. Michelle Vallejos Dance Lessons. Block 1
December
2nd Cultures through Film with Divyan Varghese
3rd Edge of the Bay Festival
10th Cultures through Cooking with Divyan Varghese
11th Christmas Pageant – Esperance Shire
16th School holidays
TBC ABC One and All Holiday Program
January 2023
16th, 23rd & 30th – Flow Into. Michelle Vallejos Dance Lessons. Block 2.
February 2023
5th – 19th Perdita Phillips Artist in Residence.
13th – Flow Into. Michelle Vallejos Dance Lessons. Block 2
20th & 27th – Flow Into. Michelle Vallejos Dance Lessons. Block 3
March 2023
9th & 23rd – Planning meetings for Taste of The World 2023
13th & 20th – Flow Into. Michelle Vallejos Dance Lessons. Block 3