Abstract ID: 19020

Author: Sharon Cheney

Title: Stories of Women Living with HIV

Subject Area/Topic: First Peoples

Women living with HIV, both infected and affected, are an often invisible, isolated and misunderstood part of the HIV community. Our faces are rarely seen, voices rarely heard, and we are a minority in the experience of HIV.

A collective of women both infected and affected with HIV came together sharing conversations at a Community Feast Forum. This inspired the Arts grant for “Songs in the Blood".

A group of 14 HIV positive and affected women came together connected by a common bond, HIV. The women shared their pain, grief, secrets, strength, resilience and hopefulness, written with courage and honesty.

The women worked with local Adelaide writer Elizabeth Mansutti, who wove their stories together to create a community theatre piece which then turned into a radio play.

Local musician Heather Fran provided the background music. 14 actors were used as the voices of the women to protect their confidentiality. The play was directed and produced by Logan Bold.

Funded by Arts SA and released on AIDS Awareness week (2007), this play was heard nationally across Australia.

It is hoped that this community arts piece will be used as an educational and awareness tool, which will increase the visibility and understanding of how HIV affects women’s lives.

As HIV services and support move towards being mainstreamed, we risk losing the community and peer connection. For many of us, our survival has been encouraged and enhanced by those around us who share the same fears and challenges.

The value of peer community in breaking down isolation and invisibility for those living with HIV is something which should not be underestimated. And for those of us who have been around for a long time, we have much to pass onto those who are recently diagnosed, or new to the experience of living with HIV, and to the wider community.

This presentation will describe the process to achieve this essential community theatre piece showing the value of community projects as an educational and mentoring tool from the first inspiration of the forum through to the launch of ‘Songs in the Blood’.