I Will Survive~Lismore Queer Community Fundraiser

I Will Survive is a creative recovery project for the Northern Rivers LGBTIQA+ community following the catastrophic 2022 floods. The first stage of development was delivered in October-December 2022 with Artist Seed funding from NORPA.

The project commenced with a series of 8 day-long trauma-informed creative art and performance based workshops offered free to the LGBTIQA+ community, with participants' artistic outcomes culminating in a public showing of the first stage of development for a multidisciplinary dance-theatre show and exhibition that shares stories of our community’s experience of the flood and recovery.

The initial stage of the project reached over 100 people in-person, including 32 workshop participants, 17 artists/art workers, and over 60 people coming to watch the public showing in December.

These workshops and the subsequent presentation piece have not only been an opportunity for marginalised members of this regional community to make social connections and develop artistic skills, but they have also proven to be beneficial to participants' mental health and wellbeing.

Watch this ABC piece to get an idea of what we’ve been creating together and to hear directly from members of the group.

As the Lismore community continues on its recovery journey, the intention is to carry on with the project and keep developing the performance piece and exhibition that we have started creating together. The title of the project is evolving to 'We Will Survive', as a solid group of people has formed to support each other through sharing arts and creativity as a way of recovering from the devastating effects of the big flood.

Another series of workshops are on the cards for 2023, with a Creative Development period planned for the start of next year in preparation for a projected public presentation at The Quad, Lismore for Pride Month in June 2024. Some of the amazingly talented local artists who will be leading the workshops include:

Paul Walker

Claudie Frock

Marion Conrow

Phil Blackman

Jex Lopez

Jane Grimley

Chris Lego

Sahar

As well as applying for grants through different funding bodies, we are asking for your support to help get this project up and running again. As a grassroots, community-led recovery project for disadvantaged people, we are reliant on external funding to make our dreams come to life. Any contribution you can make will be greatly appreciated, but to give you an idea:

$20 will go toward materials and art supplies

$50 will cover catering for a workshop

$100 will go toward documenting the project

$200 will cover venue hire for a workshop

$300 will pay a Social Worker/Counsellor to support a workshop

$500 will pay a Lead Facilitating Artist to deliver a workshop

Finally, to quote Octavia Butler (Earthseed):

“All that you touch

You Change.

All that you Change

Changes You.”

With love and gratitude,

Paul Walker

Artistic Director / Creative Producer