Stories have the power to enact change in the real world by reimagining and reframing what’s possible. But the responsibility to create change can’t fall solely only on writers and the stories they tell. Behind the scenes, publishers and agents play a vital role in advocating for better representation in their sector. This live-streamed panel discussion brings together publishers and agents from the UK and Australia to consider how the publishing industry can better facilitate access and inclusion. What initiatives already exist? Where are the areas for improvement? And what can individuals and companies working in publishing do, both together and separately, to facilitate necessary change?This event will feature Crystal Mahey-Morgan, founder of Own it!; Rachel Bin Salleh, publisher at Magabala Books; Emma Paterson, literary agent at Aitken Alexander Associates; and Grace Heifetz, literary agent at Left Bank Literary. Hosted by Joy Francis, Executive Director at Words of Colour Productions.
This event will be live-captioned.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves is presented with Spread the Word and the Melbourne City of Literature Office and supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons Board, the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season.
Representation, Voice and Agency