Samesame But Different (SSBD) is seeking LGBTQIA+ creatives and community members with a love of books and queer writing (embracing all genres, mediums and platforms) to join the SSBD Board and contribute to the ongoing creative and administrative development of the festival and its place in our diverse community.
We encourage submissions from all skill sets and levels of experience, and in particular, we are seeking people with any/all of the following:
An active writing and creative practice in any genre/format;
Connections within the Aotearoa publishing and literary scene;
Experience in event management and curation;
Skills in financial management and grant application writing;
Marketing and community engagement knowledge;
Good jokes.
This is a volunteer role. The Board meets once a month throughout the year, and more frequently in the months leading up to a festival. The next festival will take place in Tāmaki Makaurau in August 2026 (a shift from previous festivals which have taken place during February) with satellite events sporadically throughout the year.
We will be prioritising applications from people who are based within commuting distance of Auckland but applications from outside of Tāmaki Makaurau may be considered.
We will be accepting applications until midnight on 2 May 2025.
To learn more about the festival, please see samesamebutdifferent.co.nz.
If you would like to be part of the Board and help shape our next festival, please email us at samesamebutdifferentnz@gmail.com to apply or for more information. To be considered, please send through a CV and a brief cover letter outlining how you would like to contribute to SSBD’s kaupapa. We welcome this information in any format that is accessible to you (i.e. written, video, or audio). If you need any additional support in applying for this role, please let us know.
Samesame but different, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first LGBTQIA+ Writers Festival, was launched by the writer Peter Wells in 2016. Peter’s goal was for the festival to be “an exciting event that makes people think about sexuality, difference and community, stretches their understanding, gives them a few laughs and creates a slightly magic space for two days in February.”
Since Peter’s death in 2019, samesame but different has been run by an energetic group of volunteers who have continued the festival’s tradition of bold events, strong attendance and stimulating conversations.
As well as providing a platform to amplify the voices of LGBTQIA+ writers, we use our funding to pay all the writers and moderators who participate in our discussions.