In a nothing-short-of-extraordinary writing year, 2023 included the launch of my debut poetry collection, completion of the next edition of The Relationship is the Project, self-publication of my grandmother’s memoir, neiphling’s picture book and family musical, articles in three literary journals, new poems in print and online, and more.
Public. Open. Space.
Over five months, four states and more than 11,000 kilometres, my debut poetry collection, Public. Open. Space., was resoundingly launched into the world thanks to the good folks at Fremantle Press.
I am gobsmacked and grateful that so many wonderful people turned up for the launches, bought, read or reviewed my little green book, which has been called “deeply hopeful,” “a formally clever, politically charged and very moving work,” “a compelling exploration of contemporary issues that captivates and challenges readers,” a ” bold incitement to revolution and “a considered, tender, and accomplished debut from a poet to watch.” *swoon*
HUGE thanks to Georgia Richter and all at Fremantle Press, Laurie Steed, Jack Collard, Larry Blight, Barbara Temperton, Esther Anatolitis, Bebe Oliver, Dominic Guerrera, Jennifer Mills, Luke Patterson, David Ryding and all of the libraries, booksellers, cake-makers, pom-pom shakers, poetry-lovers and pals who have made this wild ride such a deep privilege and joy.
Thanks also to Westerly, the Fremantle Press and The Writer Laid Bare blogs, and Hong Kong’s Tentacle journal, in which some of the learnings and poems from Public. Open. Space. have found new spaces too. And for all of the press and PR coverage, including my interview with The Garret podcast (an absolute dream come true).
The Relationship is the Project
Thanks to the support of Creative Australia, the expanded second edition of The Relationship is the Project will be released by NewSouth Publishing in March 2024, featuring contributions from more than 40 thought leaders from across the arts, cultural and community sectors.
From First Peoples’ leadership to climate justice, cultural safety to class, intersectionality to disaster recovery and more, it includes a broad range of provocations, tools and practical tips in what is already being called the “the go-to book for every community practitioner and budding change maker.”
As well as co-piloting and editing the collection, the book includes my updated chapter on duty of care and a new chapter on the art of facilitation (co-written with Jade Lillie). Pre-orders are now open via the NewSouth website.
Family projects
After more than 14 years of ghost-writing my 98-year-old Nan’s memoir (under near-constant threat of physical violence), I finally finished and self-published it back-to-back with an updated version of Pop’s autobiography. It’s reception with a Nanna swear – “Gad, Kate” – adequately summed up what has been one of the most precious opportunities of my life.
I also self-published the final in a series of picture books I (belatedly) wrote for my newest LA neiphling, whose arrival also warranted an update to Larsen: the musical 3 (the sequel) (to the sequel) (of the book) in time to stuff stockings at the end of a family-filled year.
Rethinking arts governance
In 2023, I continued to concentrate my consultancy practice onto rethinking arts, cultural and non-profit governance. This saw me publish several new governance articles, kick off Creative Australia’s governance conversation series, and give a keynote speech at AMAGA’s national conference. I also recorded 15 editions of my ‘And Another Thing’ provocations (most of which were Patreon exclusives), and had dozens of governance conversations with arts orgs and Boards all over Australia (and beyond). Not to mention all my other work with 35+ collaborators and clients.
This will continue as the focus of my work in 2024, so if there are particular governance issues that are irking or inspiring you, that you would like me to respond to or add into my research, or that you would like to collaborate on, I’d love to hear from you.
Arts and advocacy
Amidst the Voice, Palestine and general arts advocacy, I also wrote or spoke about: self-care; Australia’s new national cultural policy (and what it meant for South Australians in particular); the hidden costs of arts funding; digital platforms, profiles and author brands (including whether artists should use pseudonyms); the state of Australia as a reading nation; and the politics of the publishing industry.
I also published: a bunch of poetry workshop and lesson plans; a review of one of my favourite poetry collections of 2022, In Bed with Animals by my pal Bronwyn Lovell; and a couple of new poems in Creatrix from WA Poets.
I hope you found the words you needed last year. I will look forward to reading more of them in the new writing year still to come.
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LARSEN | KEYS 