The Edmonton Poetry Festival is an annual celebration of poetry and spoken word that takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The festival was first established in 2006, and it has since grown into one of the largest poetry festivals in Canada.
The festival typically takes place over the course of a week in April, and it features a wide range of events and activities, including poetry readings, workshops, panel discussions, performances, and more. The festival is known for its diverse and inclusive programming, which showcases the work of poets from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
One of the highlights of the Edmonton Poetry Festival is the Poetry Slam, which is a competition where poets perform their work in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. The festival also features a Youth Poetry Slam, which is specifically designed to showcase the work of young poets.
In addition to the main festival, the Edmonton Poetry Festival also offers a number of year-round programs and initiatives, including poetry workshops, readings, and other events. These programs are designed to support and promote the work of local poets and to encourage the development of new talent in the Edmonton poetry scene.
Overall, the Edmonton Poetry Festival is an important cultural event in Edmonton, and it plays a vital role in promoting the art of poetry and spoken word in Canada.
Shima Robinson is hosting their annual event on the 24th of April. The theme this year is ‘a thousand words’. It promises a fresh insight into the contemporary world of spoken word poetry in Edmonton today. A Thousand Words is a multi-genre invitation combining poetry’s focus on sound, language and imagery into video form! It’s a video open mic: record a simple reading of your poem or layer and pair it with your music, photographs or artwork.
The festival is worth attending with some events free and some pay what you can.
