PANEL DISCUSSION 11.30AM SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2023

NUspace, UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE

Content warning: Child sexual abuse

LOUD SKY opens at The Lock-Up on Friday 31 March 2023, coinciding with the Newcastle Writers Festival. This group exhibition presents the work of five contemporary artists who have worked closely with the local community of survivors of institutional child sexual abuse to produce artworks reflecting on experiences of survival, healing and resilience in the face of trauma. 

This panel brings together three writers whose work reflects the ongoing engagement with struggles for justice for survivors and develops new ways and insights into understanding the catastrophe of child sexual abuse that has characterised so many countries in the 20th century.

Chaired by Suzanne Smith, whose book The Altar Boys exposed the damage to survivors, family members and whistle-blowers while bringing to light the criminal actions of Catholic Church administrators and their handling of paedophile perpetrators in schools and parishes around Newcastle and the Hunter-Region.

Artist and writer Damien Linnane, whose work features in the LOUD SKY, researchers and writers Sarah-Jane Page from the UK and Kathleen McPhillips from the University of Newcastle join Smith in discussing the power of art in responding to catastrophic events and how creativity can be utilised by community groups to help remember and to reconcile. 

Find out more about LOUD SKY – click here.

If this topic raises any concerns for you, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, DV Connect on 1800 811 811, or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.