Write Your Story: Macquarie Pride choose art for Wear It Purple 2023 storytelling

Amelia Hill (centre right) at the 2024 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards, where Macquarie was recognised as a Gold Employer for LGBTQ+ inclusion and was awarded Employee Network of the Year.

 

In August 2023 to celebrate Wear It Purple Day, the Macquarie Pride Employee Network Group (ENG) collaborated with the Macquarie Group Collection (the Collection) on a unique initiative in Macquarie’s three Sydney offices. Purple plaques were installed beside art works that have been created by artists who identify as LGBTQ+ to spotlight artists who 'Write Their Story' as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Including Collection art in our Wear It Purple celebrations was a fantastic expression of the year's theme of 'Write Your Story', and a great opportunity for cross-collaboration between the Collection and the Pride ENG.”

Amelia Hill
Precinct Activation Coordinator

Amelia joined Macquarie’s Pride ENG and became involved in the Wear It Purple working group in 2023, which organises Macquarie’s events and initiatives in support of the annual LGBTQ+ awareness day, with a focus on young people.  

“I was motivated to get involved with the Pride ENG as I was so impressed with the ENG's ability to create such a positive and forward-thinking culture throughout such a large company,” says Amelia. “As a bisexual woman, it was fantastic to see a workplace that so avidly supported its LGBTQ+ employees.”

As a passionate lover of art, and also being fortunate enough to work with artists contributing to the public art in the new 1 Elizabeth precinct, I very much appreciate the value that the Collection provides Macquarie and its employees, and the artistic community.” 

Left: Sophie Dumaresq, The Hairy Panic, untitled #7, 2019-2020, rag photographique, ed 2/3 with a Wear it Purple badge.

Right: Nick Heynsbergh, My explanation for coming out to my parents as gay was that I was attracted to men, 2021, watercolour and charcoal on paper. Nick Heynsbergh, When I was in grade 6, the ‘cool’ guys would corner me and my best friend and throw us against the back of the portables, insisting that we were gay, 2021, watercolour and charcoal on paper, with a Wear it Purple badge.