Workshop
SLAM POETRY Workshop
Saturday November 7, 10am – 12pm
Carnegie 3rd floor Classroom, 401 Main
Free
In preparation for Carnegie’s 3rd Poetry Slam! Pamela Bentley, creative writing teacher and long-time slam poet, leads a workshop to share advice and techniques. Bring two of your favourite poems or write one in the workshop; you will get an opportunity to try out your slam poetry ideas, and with one-on-one mentoring you will be ready to step up and go for it! This workshop is useful for anyone seeking to improve their ability to present their poetry in public.
Poetry
CARNEGIE’S 3rd POETRY SLAM!
Saturday November 7, 1pm – 2:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
In celebration of the Carnegie newsletter and its long history of encouraging writers and poets in the Downtown Eastside, we present Carnegie’s 3rd Poetry Slam! Have you slammed a poem before? You’ll have three minutes to say your poem. Memorize it, improvise it, rant or sing it out. Five random audience members chosen to judge will then give you a score; be prepared for surprises. Featured host and MC is Jillian Christmas, a Grand Slam Poetry Champion. Be part of the audience – laugh, cheer, cry, clap – or step up and slam it, you know you want to!
Poetry
THE COURAGE TO HEAL
Saturday November 7, 3pm to 4:15pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
After their dynamite appearance at the Festival last year, the Festival is thrilled to welcome back Valerie Mason-John, aka Queenie, and Bertha Clark, aka Adelene da soul poet, for an afternoon of poetic stories that resonate with audiences. Traumatic and abusive experiences are some of the main causes of addiction. Or living on the streets, in prison or in the mental health system. It is not surprising that it takes enormous courage to heal. Hosted by editor and award-winning author Valerie Mason-John. Also featuring Jillian Christmas, Artistic Director of Verses Festival of Words, and author, editor and teacher Reg Johanson. As Adelene da soul poet says – “If you’re feelin’ down, try laughing…tis medicine for your soul!”
Reading
SUSTAIN AND NOURISH
Saturday November 7, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
Thursdays Writing Collective reads short texts from their new project Sustain and Nourish – an investigation into where and how the topic of food intersects with literature. Personal and political, these pieces respond to questions posed by Poet Laureate Rachel Rose’s three-year Food and Poetry community building initiative. Thursdays Writing Collective is a non-profit organization of drop-in creative writing sessions held at Carnegie. The Collective is comprised of more than 150 activists, academics, slam poets, novelists and storytellers and explores issues of self-determination through creative writing. Founded in 2008, the Collective has published seven anthologies, collaborates with internationally recognized artists and performs at festivals, literary events and readings. www.thursdayswritingcollective.ca
Poetry
DTES POETS CABARET & OPEN MIC
Saturday November 7, 7pm – 9:45pm
Carnegie Theatre, 401 Main
Free
Downtown Eastside poets and writers meet on the first Saturday of every month to read original poetry, plays, prose and works-in-progress. The evening is free, it’s friendly, and it’s packed with local talent both on the microphone and in the audience. Featured guests for the evening are Queenie, aka Valerie Mason-John, and Bertha Clark, aka Adelene da soul poet. Sign up for a ten-minute spot at the Open Mic. Hosted by Diane Wood.