About
The word 'crisis' comes from the Greek krisis which means "to decide, a point at which a change must come". In Queensland, the Covid-19 crisis is altering life in ways that were unimaginable even a few weeks ago.
While this is undeniably frightening, it is also a moment of radical possibility when people are outside the old way of doing things, and something new and better seems within reach.
Taking this as inspiration, University of Queensland writing experts are inviting young Queenslanders to submit a postcard from the hopeful, post-COVID future as part of a new creativity project.
Launched today, Wish you were here! Postcards from Future Queensland is aimed at empowering our community to imagine a better future after the COVID-19 crisis, through storytelling.
Open to both high school and university students from across Queensland, this project is led by prominent published authors Associate Professor Kim Wilkins and Dr Helen Marshall from UQ’s School of Communication and Arts and is supported by the Centre for Critical and Creative Writing.
As the Deputy Associate Dean (Research) of UQ’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Associate Professor Wilkins aims to inspire Queensland’s youth to use the COVID-19 crisis as a turning point on the way to a better world.
“We want our youth to imagine together what they want Queensland to look like when life resumes,” Associate Professor Wilkins said. “COVID-19 is altering life in ways that were unimaginable even a few weeks ago and while this is undeniably frightening, as writers we also see it as a moment of possibility.
“The postcards should reflect what kind of a world would they like to grow up in. What do they hope will be the same? What do they hope will change forever?” she said.
When
Starting April 20, the project team will produce a short writing lesson with a challenge, every two weeks. Each challenge will help students write back with their own postcard from future Queensland. Find the latest writing lesson here.
Corella Press, UQ’s student-led publisher, will produce a chapbook of some of the best entries at the completion of the project.
Learn More
To discover how you can become involved in this exciting outreach initiative please visit the project landing page via Wish you were here! Postcards from Future Queensland
“It is our hope that this community outreach initiative will enable people to imagine a better Queensland, after COVID-19. And we will give you the tools to help you explore that strange new world," Dr Marshall said.
Media: Associate Professor Kim Wilkins, k.wilkins@uq.edu.au; Dr Helen Marshall, helen.marshall@uq.edu.au
