The Red Room Company
Poetry programs for community healing.
The Red Room Company (RRC) is dedicated to creating unusual and useful poetry projects through imaginative learning programs in schools and correctional centres. Their “Unlocked” literacy program in remote NSW prisons focuses on positive expression, self-confidence and cultural reconnection.
2015 Pitch
Funds raised: $24,500
The Red Room Company presented in Sydney at The Funding Network in October 2015 and raised $24,500 to conduct three UNLOCKED workshops engaging over 150 marginalised people.
The impact...
Having experienced an UNLOCKED workshop with The Red Room Company at the Balund-a Diversionary Centre near Tabulam, NSW, Andy Bolt Williams reinvented his approach, and the direction of, his life to avoid incarceration. Andy spent NAIDOC week 2016 participating in a poetic workshop which brought together 22 student under the leadership of three Elders, poet & activist Lionel Fogarty, Aboriginal singer/ songwriter Joe Geia and three other local Aboriginal artists. This collaboration - writing poetry, creating lyrics and producing a CD of the 'Balund-a Song' - culminated in a greater sense of self, pride and direction for Andy and his co-collaborators.
Writing and creating with 7 student poets over three days at the Silverwater Women's facility, 23 students over three days at South Coast correctional centres and 130 Aboriginal Elders, artist and students including Andy at Balund-a: the project also produced two poetry anthologies and The Red Room Company has been invited to return with the UNLOCKED program in 2017.
Read their Impact Report
Learn more about Red Room Company.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals:
