Textile Social: Teachers for anti-racist practice

Are you a teacher dedicated to advancing anti-racism in your classroom and school community? Are you a bit burnt out as we shuffle toward the end of the year? You're invited to this teachers-only workshop designed specifically for educators like you who are committed to fostering caring, anti-racist learning environments.

Why?

We understand the need for collective spaces and gentle time with likeminded educators, to replenish us and sustain the work we do.

Join us at the Newland Community House to gather with others, hear some poetry and inspiring words encouraging us to stay with the trouble, all while we create some botanically-dyed textile art together.

Participants are invited to bring a textile (preferably silk), and some plant matter that marks this point in time (pressed, dried or fresh, or picked up from a florist on the way!) You will bind your textiles and plant matter together to produce a dye bundle.

Textiles will be processed through heat in a pot of eucalyptus dye after the workshop, and mailed back to participants.

NECCHI (Newlands and East Coburg Community Houses)

Newland Community House: 20 Murray Rd, Coburg North VIC 3058, Australia

Cost: $25 to cover costs and return postage. (Can't cover this? Reach out to the organisers.)

First Nations/BIPOC participants tickets are covered and free of charge.

Some light refreshments provided.

Textiles:

Suggested sources of silk cloth are opp shops, Target (silk pillowcases), and Beautiful Silks (www.beautifulsilks.com.au) for ethically sourced options. Wool also has vibrant results with eucalyptus dyes. Leaf prints can also be achieved on cotton and linen, however these will be more pale.

Some small blank silk pieces will be available for purchase at cost price ($15-30) on the night. Various eucalyptus varieties will be available to share.

Accessibility:

• One level community centre
• Enter via small shopping centre car park
• One disability car park near the entrance of building
• Footpath is accessible directly from carpark
• Turn right from footpath to Centre doors
• Doors have options to open automatically or be opened manually
• Door opens outward to the left
• Access to 2 rooms via slight ramp from foyer
• Foyer, ramp and one room with low pile carpet
• Four cubical toilets and one wheelchair accessible toilet with a baby change table
• Hearing loop device available on request from staff

Host or Publisher Jessica Gannaway is an educator and artist in Naarm, Vic.