Make a New Year’s resolution to develop your creative writing

 

This series of workshops early in the year will introduce various styles and establish an international collaboration.

Join for one evening or as many as you like to get a taste of how a few words can paint a picture.

Working with Italy-based Naviar Records, the Stay Cool project will promote techniques for Japanese-inspired prose and selected examples will be then interpreted by musicians.

Selected results will be exhibited in Griffith during May, along with links to examples of the soundtrack the poetry has inspired.

The handful of lessons will be presented by writers based around the world and each workshop will offer their perspectives on poetic processes, so you don’t need to commit to attend all of them and can dip in to get a sense of what each instructor brings.

Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson is an interdisciplinary artist and curator exploring the Riverina landscape through text and digital media.
His exhibition at the Narrandera Destination and Discovery Hub from 18-31 January will launch the Stay Cool project with examples of his senryu-style micro-journaling and photography.
This practice of writing short descriptive poems using strict constraints will be the focus of his workshop on 27 January.

Lisa Germany

Lisa Germany is a professional writer and photographer, and a published haiku and haibun author currently based in Arctic Greenland.

Her Introduction to Traditional Japanese Haiku workshop will guide you through the craft of writing and editing your own poem in English on 3 February.

 

Marco Sebastiano Alessi

Marco Sebastiano Alessi is the founder of Naviar Records, a music community and record label exploring the connection between experimental music and traditional Japanese poetry.
He often shares his music and haiku through Naviar’s creative challenges, and writes for various music publications such as Sound of Life and HigherHz. 

His workshop will be on 10 February.
Greg Pritchard
Greg Pritchard is a writer of haikus, short poems and adept at using writing in other ways not on the page.
A PhD in literature and philosophy informs his work as a writer, performer and visual artist.
His workshop on 17 February will open up possibilities for your writing you never imagined. 
Zoe and Sherry Grant
Sherry and Zoe Grant will be sharing their enthusiasm for rengay, which is a form of collaborative poetry.
Both are award-winning haiku poets, as well as editors of Raining Rengay and Haiku Zoo Journal.
This New Zealand-based mother-daughter duo aspires to inspire at least one billion people with their creative pursuits.
Join their workshop on 23 February.

Please return to this page in 2026 for further details!

 

This project is supported by Griffith City Council through their Regional Art Gallery, as well as financial assistance from the NSW Government through Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW.