Closing Night: Be Kind, Rewind

Mama Alto is a jazz singer, cabaret artiste and gender transcendent diva. She is a transgender and queer person of colour best known for her velvet vocals, triumphant cabaret performances and illuminating storytelling.

Evelyn Araluen is a Goorie/Koori poet, researcher, co-editor of Overland Literary Journal, and is the author of DROPBEAR (UQP).

Jamali Bowden is an Australian-born Afro-Anglo mixed-race queer creative who currently studies writing in Naarm.

Lujayn Hourani is a Palestinian writer, editor, and arts worker living on unceded Wurundjeri Country. They are a 2020 recipient of The Wheeler Centre’s Next Chapter Scheme, and are currently working on a book of experimental poetry. You can find their work in Meanjin, Overland, Australian Poetry, and Going Down Swinging, among others.

Shakira Hussein is a writer and researcher based at The University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute. She is a regular commentator in the issues of gender, racism and disability and the author or “From Victims to Suspects: Muslim women since 9/11”.

Elijah Money is a queer Wiradjuri brotherboy who was raised on Kulin Nations and continues to reside there

Adalya Nash Hussein is a writer and editor. Her work has appeared in Voiceworks, The Lifted Brow, Ibis House, Meanjin and Going Down Swinging.

Cecile Richard is a graphic designer, zine maker and game designer living in Melbourne whose artistic work often revolves around the themes of memory, connection and belonging. Cecile’s most well-known works include award-winning short Bitsy games novena , ENDLESS SCROLL, and UNDER A STAR CALLED SUN.

Jane Rosengrave is a proud Yorta Yorta woman who lives with an intellectual disability and is widely respected for her fearless advocacy regarding violence against people with disability

Michael Sun is a writer and designer based on Gadigal land/Sydney who loves beautiful dogs and ugly fonts. His work — which revolves around the intersections between queer and pop culture, memory, and technology — has been published in Guardian Australia, The Monthly, ABC Arts, Vice, the Age/SMH, and many more. Currently, he’s the Culture Editor at Netflix Australia and gasbags at FBi Radio in his spare time.

Windon is a neurodivergent Wiradjuri writer based in Naarm. He writes quirky stories about quirky people with a focus on YA fiction. Under the pen/stage name, Beau SYW, you can experience his words weaved together in raw chaotic poetry.

Sumarlinah (they/them) is a community organiser and creative living on Wurundjeri country