This fellowship gives me space to re-establish my practice as an independent artist in a new region at a pivotal moment in my life. It allows me to develop a new model of artistic practice that accommodates my role as a solo parent, build trust and understanding within a new community, strengthen my skills as a community artist, and return to my writing practice after years of prioritising community leadership.

A friend recently compared starting over to Snakes and Ladders: Sometimes you’re progressing steadily, one foot in front of the other, and then you make a faux pas, step on a landmine you didn’t know was there or a snake that sends you fifteen squares back. “Oh yeah, you shouldn’t have mentioned that to her. That sh*t goes way back.” Other times, a good chat can lead me up a ladder and offer shortcuts. “Oh, you need to talk to So And So. She’s exactly the kind of person you’re looking for. And she works with This And That! And he’s been wanting to start something like that for years!”

This fellowship is a new place to start over. In the Mid North. Serving my new community.