@TheySwarm again welcomes guests for Riff Raff Reading Room on Sat 2 & Sun 3 May.
Make a free booking to browse the BIPOC library in a COVID-safer space - alone or with people you bring - for up to 2 hours at /textaqueen/riff-raff
Riff Raff Reading Room shares TheySwarm’s library of titles by First Nations, Black, and people of colour (especially queer and trans) authors and artists with a focus on disability justice, Indigenous and other radical resistance, speculative fiction, memoir, self publishing, picture books and poetry.
Thanks again to everyone who’s donated to the ACF fundraiser. More info via links in TQ bio. Sign up to @TextaQueen newsletter to learn about future events including hybrid writing and read-a-loud sessions.
Access: N95 Masks required and provided. Air-purifiers and UV. Step-free but bathroom not *yet* wheelchair accessible. Low-stimulation, quiet-ish space with natural light + dimmable lighting. Lounge chairs, low sofa, armless ergonomic chairs, floor mat. Fragrance-free. More access info at link in bio. IDs in alt text
@TheySwarm welcomes guests for the second Riff Raff Reading Room of 2026. We’ll be open by appointment Sat 4 April & Sun 5 April and every first full weekend of the month.
Make a free booking to browse the BIPOC library in a COVID-safer space - alone or with people you bring - for up to 2 hours at /textaqueen/riff-raff. If you practice pandemic precautions in your daily life you can request to be introduced to the space personally. There is also the option to visit without human interaction.
Riff Raff Reading Room shares TheySwarm’s library of titles by First Nations, Black, and people of colour (especially queer and trans) authors and artists with a focus on disability justice, Indigenous and other radical resistance, speculative fiction, memoir, self publishing, picture books and poetry.
Thanks again to everyone who’s donated to the ACF fundraiser. More info via links in bio. Sign up to @TextaQueen newsletter to learn about future events including hybrid writing and read-a-loud sessions.
Access: N95 Masks required and provided. Air-purifiers and UV. Step-free but bathroom not *yet* wheelchair accessible. Low-stimulation, quiet-ish space with natural light + dimmable lighting. Lounge chairs, low sofa, armless ergonomic chairs, floor mat. Fragrance-free. More access info at link in @TextaQueen bio
ID in alt text
@TheySwarm welcomed guests for Riff Raff Reading Room over the weekend. Open next on Sat 4 April & Sun 5 April, and then the first full weekend of every month.
Make a free booking to browse the BIPOC library in a COVID-safer space - alone or with people you bring - for up to 2 hours at /textaqueen/riff-raff
Riff Raff Reading Room shares TheySwarm’s library of titles by First Nations, Black, and people of colour (especially queer and trans) authors and artists with a focus on disability justice, Indigenous and other radical resistance, speculative fiction, memoir, self publishing, picture books and poetry.
Many immuno-compromised, disabled, and other COVID-realist people continue to live in ongoing isolation in a world where most people and places have abandoned pandemic precautions. Happy that I'm able to offer my studio at TheySwarm in Collingwood - Narrm, as a sensory-friendly space with few social expectations, for us to connect with a rad collection of literature and each other.
Thanks again to everyone who’s donated to the ACF fundraiser. More info via links in bio. Sign up to @TextaQueen newsletter to learn about future events including hybrid writing and read-a-loud sessions.
Access: N95 Masks required and provided. Air-purifiers and UV. Step-free but bathroom not *yet* wheelchair accessible. Low-stimulation, quiet-ish space with natural light + dimmable lighting. Lounge chairs, low sofa, armless ergonomic chairs, floor mat. Fragrance-free. More access info at link in bio.
IDs in alt text
TheySwarm's COVID-safer Riff Raff Reading Room is open by appointment 11am-3pm on Sat Mar 7 and Sun Mar 8.
To browse TheySwarm's BIPOC library for up to two hours on your own (or with others you bring) book at /textaqueen/riff-raff
N95 Masks required and provided. Air-purifiers and UV. Low-stimulation, quiet-ish space with natural light + dimmable lighting. Lounge chairs, low sofa, armless ergonomic chairs, floor mat. Fragrance-free. Step-free but bathroom not *yet* wheelchair accessible. More access info at link below.
Facilitated introductions to the space and library are *only* available to those practicing pandemic precautions.
Thanks to all who've donated to our (ongoing) ACF fundraiser (link in bio). You've helped us provide more titles for the BIPOC Library, a website (coming soon!), and access costs. We haven't met our goal as yet, but hope to host more facilitated sessions for/by COVID-realist writers and readers later in year. We're not currently lending titles out - a borrowing system is in the works.
Following RRRRs in 2026: Weekend of April 4th-5th and every first full weekend of the month.
TheySwarm
152 Johnston Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066
Narrm - Wurundjeri Country
How to get here: visit /projects/theyswarm
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Happening now! Riff Raff open day welcomes you to visit TheySwarm Library between 12pm-3pm at 152 Johnston St, Collingwood.
RSVP: /e/theyswarms-riff-raff-open-day-tickets-1812169861839
ID: 3 photos of TheySwarm studio set up for Riff Raff open day with chairs, floor cushion and a whiteboard.
It's nearly here - TheySwarm’s Riff Raff Open Day on Giving Day to the Arts Thursday 23rd October. Today is also a great day to support our ACF fundraiser to bring you Riff Raff Reading Rooms in 2026 (link in bio).
TextaQueen invites you to a taste of ‘Riff Raff Reading Room’ - an upcoming event series of covid-cautious reading, writing and riffing sessions with TheySwarm’s rad BIPOC library.
When:
Thursday 23 October
on Giving Day To the Arts
RSVP to drop in anytime between
12-3pm AEDT in-person
1-3pm AEDT online - 7-9pm PST
(RSVP by 11am AEDT to get zoom link)
Where:
TheySwarm (and online)
152 Johnston Street Collingwood, Narrm
What:
Open Day introduces Riff Raff with three sessions - 12-1 quiet-ish reading, 1-2 read-a-loud reading and 2-3 discussion time with anyone interesting in hosting or participating in future reading rooms
To RSVP, support our fundraiser or for more info visit links in bio or head to /projects/theyswarm/
Access Info:
N95s required - please bring your own. (also provided). 3 purifiers in main space, 1 in bathroom. Armchairs, ergonomic and dining chairs, mats in a spacious circle. Step-free but bathroom not yet accessible for power chairs, limited access for manual chairs. Access Guide with photos emailed to RSVPs.
@TheySwarm , hosted by @TextaQueen , is a studio, artist residency and covid-cautious event space for diverse and disabled artists.
ID: photo of interior of TheySwarm, a studio with a 70s stuffed dog wearing a teal mask, sitting in a patterned armchair reading, a chalkboard with "RIFF RAFF READING ROOM - covid-cautious times with TheySwarm's rad BIPOC library" and books in a shelf.
Riff Raff Reading Room is a series of COVID-cautious reading, writing and riffing sessions launching in 2026 at TheySwarm, TextaQueen’s shopfront studio, artist residency and event space in Collingwood, Narrm.
TheySwarm library shares books by First Nations, Black and people of colour authors making space for reflection, learning and community building whilst centring marginalised creatives. The library focus - disability justice, radical resistance, speculative and queer fiction, self publishing and poetry.
Here’s where you come in - As an artist interested in community-building amongst like-minded creatives, TextaQueen invites interested COVID-cautious writers and readers to come and help facilitate the space as part of a revolving collective, with (paid) opportunities to provide your own input from your lived and professional experience. All interested in covid cautious reading rooms welcome to join - queer/trans/BIPOC/disabled writers and readers especially welcome.
This Thursday 23 October, on Giving Day to the Arts, come share dreams of covid-cautious rad & creative connection from 2-3pm as part of TheySwarm's Riff Raff Open Day happening from 12-3 in-person and 1-3 online.
To learn more, RSVP to attend in-person or online, or support our ACF fundraiser, head to links in bio or textaqueen.com/projects/riff-raff-reading-room
Access Info (more at RSVP link):
N95s required (also provided). 3 purifiers in main space, 1 in bathroom. Armchairs, ergonomic without armrests, and dining chairs, mats in a spacious circle. Step-free but bathroom not yet accessible for power chairs, limited access for manual chairs (DM with yr email for details/access guide with photos sent to RSVPs before event). Live captions online & host scripts shared.
#covidcautious #readingroom #theyswarm
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This Thursday 23 October, TextaQueen invites you to TheySwarm’s Riff Raff Open Day for a taste of ‘Riff Raff Reading Room’ - an upcoming event series of covid-cautious reading, writing and riffing sessions with TheySwarm’s rad BIPOC library hosted by TQ and diverse and disabled creatives. Free & hybrid event in tandem with our ACF fundraiser for future reading rooms (links in bio)
Where:
TheySwarm (and online)
152 Johnston Street Collingwood, Narrm
When:
Thursday 23 October
on Giving Day To the Arts
RSVP to drop in anytime between
12-3pm in-person
1-3pm online
What:
Open Day introduces Riff Raff with three sessions - quiet-ish reading, read-a-loud reading and discussion time with anyone interesting in hosting or participating in future reading rooms
To RSVP, support our ACF fundraiser or for more info visit links in bio or head to /projects/theyswarm/
Access Info (more at RSVP link):
N95s required (also provided). 3 purifiers in main space, 1 in bathroom. Armchairs, ergonomic and dining chairs, mats in a spacious circle. Step-free but bathroom not yet accessible for power chairs, limited access for manual chairs (DM with yr email for details).
@TheySwarm , hosted by @TextaQueen , is a studio, artist residency and covid-cautious event space for diverse and disabled artists.
ID 1: chalkboard with chalk text “RIFF RAFF / OPEN DAY / covid cautious reading / with TheySwarm’s / rad BIPOC library / THU 23 OCT 12-3
ID 2: chalkboard with chalk text “TheySwarm / 152 Johnston Street / Collingwood, Narrm / 12 -3 / (1-3 online) / RSVP textaqueen.com/projects/theyswarm”
TextaQueen invites you to TheySwarm’s Riff Raff Open Day for a taste of ‘Riff Raff Reading Room’ - an upcoming event series of covid-cautious reading, writing and riffing sessions with TheySwarm’s rad BIPOC library hosted by TQ and diverse and disabled creatives.
Where:
TheySwarm (and online)
152 Johnston Street Collingwood, Narrm
When:
Thursday 23 October
on Giving Day To the Arts
RSVP to drop in anytime between
12-3pm in-person
1-3pm online
What:
Open Day introduces Riff Raff with three sessions - quiet-ish reading, read-a-loud reading and discussion time with anyone interesting in hosting or participating in future reading rooms
To RSVP, support our ACF fundraiser or for more info visit links in bio or head to /projects/theyswarm/
Access Info (more at RSVP link):
N95s required (also provided). 3 purifiers in main space, 1 in bathroom. Armchairs, ergonomic and dining chairs, mats in a spacious circle. Step-free but bathroom not yet accessible for power chairs, limited access for manual chairs (DM with yr email for details).
@TheySwarm , hosted by @TextaQueen , is a studio, artist residency and covid-cautious event space for diverse and disabled artists.
ID: video of Texta, pets and a 70s stuffed dog introducing TheySwarm library and venue with artwork by @Raju_Rage , TQ and music by Kohinoorgasm
*despite video, pets won’t be at Open Day
