AUSTRALIA’S FIRST GENDER EQUALITY GAME JAM
14 & 15 September 2019, The Arcade, Port Phillip
Applications are now open for the Gender Equality Game Jam, a national first, set to be held at The Arcade in the City of Port Phillip in Victoria over the weekend of 14th and 15th of September.
This open-gendered 18+ game jam is a collaboration between Girl Geek Academy, the City of Port Phillip, Star Health and The Arcade and the game development business community.
Funded by VicHealth’s Gender Equality in the Arts program, the Gender Equality Game Jam will be using creativity and team work to promote gender equality and acknowledge gender diversity around the world.
Girl Geek Academy co-founder and CEO, Sarah Moran said “Gender imbalance is a familiar concept in the gaming industry. The Game Developers Association Australia 2018 survey revealed that only 22.9% of all gaming employees identify themselves as not men, despite 52.1% of players identifying as women and non binary.”
With Victoria leading the way nationally, in both gender equality and the development of Australian games, The Gender-Equality Game Jam is designed specifically to bring gamers together to address the gendered drivers of violence against women.
Acting Mayor of Port Phillip, Louise Crawford said “As a local government leader in the prevention of family violence and in raising awareness about gender equity, the City of Port Phillip is proud to partner with Girl Geek Academy and Star Health in this innovative approach to raising awareness about these important issues. Our City was a major sponsor of the Australian Game Developer Awards last year and we are working on a Game Action Plan to position us as the digital games capital of Victoria. The inaugural Gender Equality Game Jam is a fantastic example of how this industry can use creativity to promote change and we look forward to many more great ideas emanating from The Arcade in South Melbourne.”
Moran added “It’s a privilege to partner with the City of Port Phillip, Star Health and The Arcade on this initiative. Studies have shown that societies with more gender equality have decreased rates of family violence, because it creates a society based on respect. Gender equality affects everyone, and should be a priority both in the workplace and in the home.”
Selected participants will attend a workshop prior to the game jam weekend, to work directly with experts from both the gender equality movement and the gaming industry.
The weekend itself will see curated teams of 3-5, collaboratively create a game over two days, that has a purpose of social change and challenges gendered constructs.
Sunday afternoon (15th) is open to the general public, with the event ending with a ‘Play Party’ where people of all ages, backgrounds and genders are invited to come and play the games that were created.
Girl Geek Academy will also be inviting all the participants of the Gender Equality Game Jam to showcase their games at a community space at this year’s PAX, Australia’s biggest gaming convention.
Applications can be made at https://girlgeekacademy.com/gender-equality-game-jam/ and close Friday 16th of August 2019.
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