Positive initiatives from the arts sector in response to the pandemic

1.04.20

Updated 16.04.20

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the creative arts sector, both in Australia and around the world, it has filled us with hope to see individuals and groups of people working together to create an opportunity out of this crisis. We wanted to share some of these stories to inspire you, and to give you ideas about how you might be able to support each other and the industry at this time.

Bookstores & Libraries

Thus far, bookshops in Australia are remaining open where they can, and trying to cater to increased demand for online ordering, including offers of free delivery to their local areas and innovations like curated online book recommendations. The ABA has an updated list of bookshops and the services they are offering at this time, and we encourage our members to support the efforts of independent bookstores on social media.

Libraries are also keeping their virtual doors open with storytime now available online, as well as continuing access to ebooks, audiobooks, and e-comics.

Online Events and Festivals

While initially we saw the cancellation of author events due to pandemic restrictions, more and more of them are now being hosted online. Several bookshops are continuing their event programs virtually, and some Australian authors have started their own community-led platform for book launches and author events, Oz Authors Online. You can also find book clubs online, including Penguin's The Huddle and Caro Llewellyn's initiative Together-Remotely.

In addition to this, some literary festivals will still be running parts of their program online including the Newcastle Writers' Festival, the Emerging Writers' Festival and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Some authors are even choosing to band together to start their own virtual literary festivals including the Everywhere BookFest, established by a collection of children’s book authors in the United States, and BookBound 2020, initiated by authors from the United Kingdom, in conjunction with Wasafiri Magazine.

For authors and illustrators who are hoping to do the same in Australia, or who would like to host their own online events, check out this useful resource and this online streaming guide. For those who were booked for an appearance at a bookstore or school, why not reach out to them to enquire about the possibility of running the event virtually instead?

Storytime & Activities for Kids

Little Scribe – this online writing platform have made 350+ writing resources freely available here. They also host videos from their online writing sessions on their Facebook page.

Livingstone Shire Library – the Livingstone Shire Library will host a new storytime video on their Facebook page every Thursday

Maribyrnong Library – the Maribyrnong Library Service’s Story Time is now online with a new video uploaded at 11am every Monday to Friday

Mem Fox – you can listen to audio of Mem Fox reading all of her classic picture books on her website

NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge – the NSW PRC hosts a range of video resources including interviews with Australian authors, studio tours, interactive drawing activities with illustrators, and storytelling activities which can be found here under ‘Author and Illustrator Showcase 2017/2018/2019’

Sandy Flett – Illustrator Sandy Flett hosts Kids’ Art School on her Youtube channel which includes fun videos for kids about how to illustrate some of your favourite animals

SCBWI Australia West - this website features learning resources from talented West Australian creators of children's books aimed at entertaining, inspiring and instructing children and young people.

Sophie Masson – author Sophie Masson is hosting online creative writing exercises in collaboration with illustrator Kathy Creamer, video readings of her books, a video presentation, and a full digital audiobook of Two Trickster Tales from Russia. Sophie is also hosting a directory of free online creative writing and illustrating resources here.

Story Box Library – with free access for an initial two months during the pandemic, this Australian website offers videos of famous people reading popular children’s books

Talu Tales – on their Youtube channel Talu Tales are hosting video readings from authors such as Alison Lester, Deb Abela, Nat Amoore and Kirli Saunders.

United Publishers of Armidale - this website features lots of fun free things to do, centred around the books they publish: puzzles, quizzes, word searches, printable colouring pages and more, as well as short video and audio presentations by authors and illustrators.

We know how important income from school and library appearances is for many authors and illustrators. If you are offering virtual appearances at schools during the pandemic, we encourage you to negotiate for a fee and refer you to our Rates of Pay.

Australia Reads At Home

With Australians going into quarantine or self-isolation, advocating for the benefits of reading could not be more important. That’s why Australia Reads, the freshly re-branded Australian Reading Hour, have started a social media campaign #AustraliaReadsAtHome.

We invite our members to participate in this campaign to help keep Australian authors, illustrators and books front and centre during this difficult time. To get involved, simply post a video or photo to your social media account of your book recommendation, your book shelves, or anything bookish, and be sure to tag @australiareads and #AustraliaReadsAtHome.

You can also join other social media conversations focused on promoting books and Australian authors and illustrators including the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s #GreatStorySwap, and #AussieApril.

Online Courses & Professional Development

If there’s one thing all writers and illustrators could use more of, it’s time to create. With current government restrictions confining us at home, now is the perfect time to work on your projects. However, if you are finding it difficult to concentrate on sitting down to illustrate or write, why not take an online course instead? Our professional development program is continuing virtually, as are webinar series run by your local writers’ centres.

Plus, for the month of April Pluralsight, the online training platform for developing skills in technology, will offer all of it's courses and tutorials for free. You can sign up for your free month here.

Other Ideas

We encourage our authors to come together as a community, and share ideas of what they are doing to adapt to the current climate. Reach out to one another on our members Facebook group, Beyond Words, and work together on virtual events, book clubs, or panel discussions. Highlight each other’s work on social media, follow book bloggers on Instagram, build your online presence, and do what you can to advocate for the importance of Australian bookshops, publishers, illustrators, authors and their books.