Writing Queer Utopias: Queer Thriving and Decolonial Futurity is a three day immersive co-creating ‘retreat’. There will be writing, world building, a little lecturing, self-reflection, and even some drawing! Ultimately, this event is about building community and resilience by throwing everyone into a (fun) creative crucible. The free event is open to all queer UBC Vancouver undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students.
It will take place January 17, 18, and 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with breaks for meals and stretching.
Sessions will include:
- ‘Self-museum’ self-reflection with a poet.
- Crash course in speculative ethnography with a cultural anthropologist.
- World building using the tabletop game Microscope.
- Writing against settler-colonization with a Cree 2S literary futurist.
- Generative writing and workshopping sessions throughout with a trans novelist.
- Lots of time to drink tea and write or stare at the ceiling and think.
Instructors for the session include jaz papadopoulos, Joshua Whitehead, Róisín Seifert and A.E. Osworth.
There will be a (optional) live reading of work produced a few weeks after the event (date to be announced).
Follow Queer Thriving UBC on Instagram for event updates.
This is event is cohosted by the Okanagan School of Education and UBC Vancouver School of Creative Writing. The intensive is supported by UBC Wellness and UBC Strategic Initiative Equity Funding.
Another event will be held on the UBC Okanagan campus in spring 2025.