Join us as we kick off the 2018 Be Heard MN Youth Poetry Slam series!
For the past six years, TruArtSpeaks’ Be Heard MN Youth Poetry Slam Series has been a space for MN poets between the ages of 13 and 19 to tell their stories, share their art, and build community with one another. This year’s series will feature a new Finals venue, some new partnerships, and even more young people standing up, speaking out, and being heard. Here’s the full schedule (click on each date to go to a Facebook event page that includes addresses and more information):
All slams begin at 7pm.Through these eight poetry slams (readings in which poets are judged on content, craft, performance, originality, and more), Be Heard seeks to identify six youth poets who will represent Minnesota at the annual international Brave New Voices youth poetry slam festival in summer 2018. These poets will also receive mentorship in writing, performing, and arts leadership.
While the competition element of the series represents an incredible opportunity for the top six poets, the series itself is set up as a space for everyone—from youth slam veterans, to first-timers, to the audience—to build community through art, present counter-narratives, and call into being the world in which we want to live.
Is this your first Be Heard? Here’s a great recap of last year’s series from MN Original!
Flip the Script! Conference
Be Heard is also the season for Flip the Script!, our annual youth writing and performance conference. Teachers interested in sending students should get in touch: [email protected]
The ReVerb Open Mic
ReVerb is still the best place to plug in, share some work, and build community. Every Thursday, 6-8pmat Golden Thyme Cafe in Saint Paul! Free and all ages.
As always, thank you for continuing to support this work. As we head into our sixth season of Be Heard, we remain in awe of our community’s continued commitment to powering youth voice– whether through ongoing donations, one-time giving, or just showing up and making noise. Thank you.
