* for real *
COMMUNITY POETRY PROJECTS
If you don't know, now you know we run a series of free poetry events, actitivities and opportunities as VERVE Poetry Festival. We make zero profit. Everything we do goes back into poets and poetry culture.
Take a look at what we do below.
VERVE OPEN DOOR
On the second Tuesday of every month we host an entirely free open mic at THE HIVE in Birmingham with a FREE poetry workshop in the day. We'd say it sells out every time but its free so selling out make no sense at all!
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There's free hot drinks and our founder (also the founder of VERVE POETRY PRESS) is almost always in attendance, you might say he's scouting for poetry talent.
We've seen a few poets make there way from beginners to published poets. We do it because we love it!
THE COLLECTIVE
The Collective is a circular initiative developing 14 newbie poets into practicing artists. We ran it with no funding, no money, entirely for free from 2023-2024.
The Collective Included;
2x poetry retreat days.
1-2-1 mentorship with a poetry publisher.
Monthly writing circles.
Monthly workshops.
4x Sharing events at venues in the city.
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We're strategising the next cohort and will create a dedicated page once we've got our ducks in a row.
Previous cohort members have gone on to publish books, feature at international poetry festivals and national events.
SUPPORTING NATIONAL GRASS ROOT POETRY & SPOKEN WORD NIGHTS
We support grass root poetry and spoken word nights by paying them to feature at our festival.
These have included;
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Empower Poetry
The Big Gay Poetry Night
I AM LOUD Scottish Poetry Slam
Run Your Mouth
Tell it to the Music
We're structuring a funding stream from VERVE to support grass root events within their community, money to help with running costs, paying poets and marketing - with your help of course.
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Watch this space!
YOUNG PPL & CHILDREN
We host free activities including workshops, performances and reading opportunities in partnership with The Poetry Foundation, The Poetry Society and The Poetry School.
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This is our initiative to support the NEXT GEN of poets via a free young persons event programme as part of the VERVE POETRY AND SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL.
