Hangama Obaidullah came to Australia from Afghanistan as a refugee in August 2003. She completed her education in Australia and has since established herself as a well-regarded artist, writer and community advocate and leader. Hangama' arts practice includes painting, drawing, photography and writing. It draws on her heritage, her homeland of Afghanistan and its culture and history. Hangama has exhibited in a variety of publicvenues in Canberra, other Australian cities and internationally. She works actively as a leader andadvocate for migrant women and refugees, through her own projects and for organisations such as Woden Community Service, Tuggeranong Arts, Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services and the Multicultural Hub. In her community work Hangama uses the arts and creativity to inspire people and build their confidence, especially among women and girls. She espouses an aesthetic and philosophy of beauty, grace and community service. Hangama's achievements have been recognised locally and internationally and she is currently participating in the IETM (International network for contemporary performing arts) Global Connectors for Contemporary Performing Arts program. 

Sarah St Vincent Welch is a Canberra based writer, editor and image maker who is known for chalking her poetry on footpaths at arts festivals. She will introduce Nazila Sharify's poems to the Smith's audience, as well as performing her own work. Nazila Sharify is an Afghani poet. Sarah's poetry pocket book 'chalk borders' (Flying Island Books 2021) and her public art, #litchalk, received a Canberra Circle of Critics Award. She is the founder of Kindred Trees a project that asks local poets to respond to a local tree with poetry.

Sign up for open mic on the night - 3 minutes max for each reader.