Laurie May

Laurie May is an Mparntwe/Alice-Springs based poet, spoken word performer and poetry educator who writes about poverty perspectives and the interconnectedness of family, time and place. Born in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Laurie May has made the desert their home. With Aboriginal ancestry from Central Queensland from their father and New Zealand heritage from her ma they have the saltwater, the red dirt and long white cloud in their veins.

With a background in English Literature, Journalism and the music industry, Laurie previously managed the music department at Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, and the Bush Bands Bash program, as well as winning an Australian Women in Music Award in 2019.

Laurie's work has been published in Red Room Poetry's Spoken Air, Kill Your Darlings and ABC Artworks, and they have over 13 years performing at festivals including Emerging Writers' Festival, Word Travels, Woodford Folk Festival, the National Young Writers' Festival and more.Laurie is the creator and Executive Director of Red Dirt Poetry Inc and Red Dirt Poetry an organisation designed to support and promote regional poetry.