Here at Express Media, we are so happy-sad to say goodbye to our wonderful Creative Producer Bethany Atkinson-Quinton!

Throughout their time with us, Beth has supported us to successfully coordinate and present two years of AMAZING Express Media programs including NEWS Conferences, Making Tracks, Toolkits, Tracks, The Scribe Nonfiction Prize and The Deakin University Nonfiction Prize, and so much more!

As a part of her send off, we sat down for a chat with Beth and sincerely considered hiring on her dog Humphrey as our next Creative Producer (just for the snuggles).

What’s your favourite thing about working in The Wheeler Centre and Express Media office?

The people! I have loved working with the EM team who are all dedicated, hard-working and passionate about the work we do! Also, very into the high level RP Drag Race fandom that exists in this workplace.

What are some of the things you learnt in your time being on the Express Media team?

Before working at EM, I’d spent most of my career working in radio so I’ve learnt so much about the way the literary industry works. I’ve learnt a lot about producing events, I’ve read a lot of local writing, I’ve met a lot of great new people and have had the privilege of curating and working with incredible artists.

What were some of your highlights of the experience?

Not to harp on about it, but working with the EM team to bring our programs to life has been such a highlight for me. I am genuinely excited by the work EM and Voiceworks do so I have loved seeing young writers come through our programs and really develop and refine their craft. It’s a special joy to see people who have put in the hard yards get new opportunities in their writing careers.

What kind of writers and writing are you most drawn to and why?

I’m interested in writing that articulates what I can’t and teaches me things I don’t know. My biggest love is creative nonfiction, to read, to write, to listen to. I’m a big audio nerd so love listening to new work that’s primary purpose is to be heard. This episode of the RN Oz Gothic Series by Maria Tumakin, produced by Camilla Hannan, is incredible, and exactly the type of thing I am drawn to!

What has been your favourite or most memorable Express Media event/initiative and why?

This is a really hard question! I loved going on an EM road trip with Frankie, Mira and Lucy to Bendigo for our Tracks program. We were staying with Frankie’s fam and I was driving everyone there, but as soon as we arrived, I burst a tyre. It was quite the bonding experience changing a tyre together before we had to run off to bump-in! I really loved programming Provocations and Postcards for Future Echoes last year. As we don’t often do many events in Melbourne, it was exciting to work with some excellent local artists. I also really loved the event we produced for NYWF in 2018 which was a literary speed dating event. It ended up being held in the park outside the library on a sunny afternoon, more lit events in parks I say!

What would the dream creative project be?

I would love to collaborate with the team that creates The Heartpodcast. It’s a pod about love and power and it’s always so thought-provoking, and intimate, and masterfully produced. 

If you could include/program anybody in the world (living or passed), who would you program? 

Bruce Pascoe, Behrouz Boochani, Alexis Wright, Johnathan Van Ness, Aileen Moreton-Robinson, Mitra Kaboli, Maria Tumarkin, Ocean Vuong, Uncle Jack Charles, Sara Ahmed, Amy McQuire, Roxane Gay, Maggie Nelson, the list goes on…