The Growing Room Festival is Room magazine’s inaugural literary festival, a celebration of diverse Canadian writers and artists
Date/Time: Mar 11 2017, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Vancouver, Creekside Community CentreCost: Free
10:30am–12:00pm
The Only Way Out is Through: Writing About Trauma
Evelyn Lau, Christine Lowther, Sonnet L'Abbé | Moderator: Elee Kraljii Gardiner
Many of us seek to escape the traumatic memories that haunt us—to heal and move on from the things that have happened to us. Could writing be a way through? Many recommend writing as a method of healing from trauma, but it’s easier said than done. Join Evelyn Lau, Christine Lowther, Sonnet L'Abbé, and Elee Kraljii Gardiner for a powerful discussion about sitting with your memories and leaving it all on the page.
1:00pm–2:30pm
Literary Gatekeepers and Accountability
Carleigh Baker, Meghan Bell, Karla Comanda, Kyla Jamieson, Vici Johnstone | Moderator: Dina Del Bucchia
The concept of ‘accountability’ in the literary arts has become a hot-button topic, inspiring thousands of tweets, articles, and conversations. And yet, the concept of accountability can be surprisingly difficult to pin down: What does it mean to have the power to publish someone? What role does a literary organization play in the fight against injustice? Following short presentations from representatives from local literary magazines and publishers, we’ll open up the floor for a townhall-style discussion to start envisioning what accountability in the literary arts looks like.
3:30pm–5:00pm
Leading by Example: What We Can Learn from YA
Often derided in the media for not being “real literature,” young adult literature—and the writers who create it—are at the forefront of the conversation about diversity in publishing. With the popularity of the We Need Diverse Books (#WeNeedDiverseBooks) campaign, and the development of publishing initiatives that focus on representing all teenagers, young adult lit, or “YA,” could teach the rest of CanLit a thing or two. Join four authors who’ve found success in writing for the YA audience as they share what this genre can teach writers, editors and publishers of all types.
3:30pm–5:00pm
Funny Feminists
Elizabeth Bachinsky, Lorna Crozier, Dina Del Bucchia, Doretta Lau, Beni Xiao
Multipurpose Room #4 @ Creekside Community Centre
“Feminists can’t take a joke?” I don’t know, dude—maybe your jokes just suck. Get ready for an afternoon of hilarity as five of B.C.’s funniest writers—Dina Del Bucchia, Lorna Crozier, Doretta Lau, Elizabeth Bachinsky, and Beni Xiao—take to the stage and show us how feminist comedy is done. By the end of this event, you’ll have a new appreciation for the power of comedic writing to surprise and delight—not to mention, convey powerful messages about injustice.
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