Say hello to the Toolkits facilitators
Say hello to the facilitators of Toolkits Season 2 2025!
Toolkits is a 12-week online program for creatives aged 16-30 to develop their skills, workshop, and connect with other writers. In the upcoming season, Express Media is running streams for graphic narratives with Bailey Sharp, digital storytelling with Aries Gacutan and poetry with Lou Garcia-Dolnik.
Sessions will run on Tuesday evenings from September 30 at 6pm–8pm AEST (poetry) and Wednesday evenings from October 1 at 6pm–8pm AEST (digital storytelling, graphic narratives). Applications to join the next cohorts close on Sunday September 14 at 11:59pm AEST.
In the lead-up, we asked the Bailey Sharp, Aries Gacutan and Lou Garcia-Dolnik what they like about Toolkits.
Bailey Sharp, Toolkits: Graphic Narratives
“What I like about the course is that it provides you with a loose structure and some accountability, so that you end up making something you might not have otherwise found the time to make. It’s nice to get to know other people around that country that are into comics – we share resources, readings and get to know each other’s work. The comics scene in Australia is relatively small so a program like this can quickly help orient you to what’s going on around the country and where you might find opportunities as someone wanting to make and put work out there. ”
Bailey Sharp is a cartoonist and educator, originally from Atlanta, now living in Naarm. She is a co-administrator of the comics publisher Glom Press, as well as an organiser of the Other Worlds Zine Fair.
Bailey Sharp
Toolkits: Graphic Narratives
Aries Gacutan, Toolkits: Digital Storytelling
“Learn creative coding, experiment with new tools and workshop with likeminded peers! Toolkits: Digital Storytelling is a 12-week professional development course for writers under the age of 30. ”
Aries M. Gacutan is a poet and digital creator working on the traditional lands of the Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin nation. They also do a bunch of other artsy things for money. They often write about space/place, migrant identity and digital ephemerality. In 2024, they were a recipient of the Emerging Poets Residency in 2024 with Red Room Poetry, and they currently facilitate Toolkits: Digital Storytelling with Express Media. Read about their dastardly poetic escapades at thearieszone.neocities.org.
Aries Gacutan
Toolkits: Digital Storytelling
Lou Garcia-Dolnik, Toolkits: Poetry
“Toolkits was an invaluable part of my journey as a young emerging poet carving out space and time for my practice. With increasing demands on our attention, the time we get to spend with each other obsessing over fine details is precious. ”
Lou Garcia-Dolnik is a poet living and working on sovereign Gadigal-Wangal land. An alumnus of the Banff Centre’s Emerging Writers Intensive, they were the 2023 recipient of the Australian Poetry/NAHR Eco-Poetry Fellowship and attended Tin House’s Summer Workshop in the poetry faculty. They sit on the board of Runway Journal as Editor.
Lou Garcia-Dolnik
Toolkits: Poetry
Toolkits is free for Express Media members along with a number of other perks, events, and opportunities. You must be a member to participate in Toolkits. If you’re not already a member, you can easily sign up here.
Note: Express Media is committed to access, so if you would like to sign up and are experiencing financial hardship, please submit your application and contact us via info@expressmedia.org.au to be awarded one of our sponsored memberships if your Toolkits application is successful.
Have a question? Need help with your application? Send an email to Express Media’s Creative Producer Mia Nie at creativeproducer@expressmedia.org.au.