Exeter City of Literature, Taking the Mic and Spork! are co-hosting a second city-wide poetry slam at Exeter Phoenix on Sunday 14 April.
Twelve local poets will compete to win a £100 prize and a spot at this year’s Slamovision, an international slam competition featuring poets from UNESCO cities of literature across the world.
Special guests include last year’s city slam winner Jonah Corren, Bard of Exeter Ceri Baker and international slam champion Esther Koch.
A BBC Radio 1 Xtra Words First finalist and Slamovision 2023 winner, Esther writes about mental health and social injustice. In 2022, she performed her commissioned poem Manchester is alive, I can assure you at the One Young World 2022 summit.
Exeter City of Literature is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities network and one of 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature worldwide.
An independent charity since 2021, it collaborates with cultural organisations and local communities on a range of creative programmes.
Projects include a Little Free Library at Exeter bus station, a literary map of Exeter and Devon and a campaign to supply books to Warm Spaces in Devon.
It also works with independent bookshops from across the county to host an annual book market. Previously held at Powderham Castle and Positive Lights Project, the market now has a permanent home in Cathedral Green.
Exeter was awarded city of literature status in 2019.
Tim King of Taking the Mic
Founded in 2009, Taking the Mic holds monthly open mic sessions at Exeter Phoenix, with weekly sessions online.
Hosted by spoken word artist and former Bard of Exeter Tim King, the events are open to a variety of acts including poets, comedians and musicians.
Spork! is a community-led producer of spoken word works. It was founded in 2018 by Exeter poet and artist Chris White.
It holds events in Exeter venues that feature local talent with line-ups from across the UK and offers a year-round programme of writing and performance workshops and an artist development programme.
Spork! has programmed drag queens, brass bands and rappers as well as some of the best spoken-word artists in the UK and beyond, including Buddy Wakefield, Vanessa Kissule and John Hegley.
Potential participants in this year’s City Slam poetry competition must register before 5pm on Wednesday 27 March by emailing Tim King at slam@speakinsong.co.uk with their name, age and location.
A shortlist of twelve will be picked out of a hat at noon on Friday 29 March.
Competitors must be based in Devon and aged 16 and over.
City Slam is at 7.30pm on Sunday 14 April 2024 at Exeter Phoenix. Tickets cost £10, or £8 for students or under-25s. Early-bird tickets also cost £8.
For more information and to book visit the Exeter Phoenix website.
