This session on ‘art and motherhood’ was ably chaired by poet Alicia Sometimes, who admitted that the very same morning, in a sleep deprived haze, she had poured boiling water on her toast. This introduction provoked much laughter and nodding from the predominantly female audience.

Rachel Power, author of The Divided Heart: Art and Motherhood said that as a writer, her experience of becoming a mother intensified her need to express herself; however she was unprepared for the ‘sheer workload that comes with having children’. She also raised the question that plagues working mums, not just those involved in the arts, of how to keep your own needs at the forefront of your life.

The irrepressible comedian and writer Catherine Deveny said in no uncertain terms artist-mothers need to ‘…do the writing/creative act first, before the housework’. Poet Lisa Gorton also evoked laughter when she said she had written ‘an entire poem just about sleeping in.’ Singer-songwriter and mother of three (including twins) Clare Bowditch talked about the collaboration necessary between father/mother and extended family to support the creative act.

For more reading about artist mothers, The Divided Heart: Art and Motherhood has interviews with twenty-six artist/mothers in the fields of literary, visual and performing arts.