What we do
(vision)
Sonic Poetry Festival is a community-based grassroots poetry and spoken word festival based in Melbourne / Naarm.
Our aim is to connect poetry and spoken word practitioners of all varieties, audience members, gig organisers, convenors and facilitators in a celebration of poetry and the spoken word. We would like to create entrances for gigs, artists and the poets out there quietly writing and reciting. We seek to create pathways for people who need poetry in their lives and don’t know it, and provide space for people to share their stories. We also wish to serve micro-communities that deserve to exist.
We’re here to create an entrance and a deeper engagement with the poetry community, including bringing new people into the fold.
Our vision is to create space to:
Foster community connection
Create an entrance into the artform
Make and share better art
Share our stories
Why we’re doing it
(mission)
During a time where we are witnessing multiple crises affecting people all over the world, we need the power of poetry and the spoken word more than ever. Through poetry, we can grieve, challenge the status quo and come together to celebrate our common humanity. We welcome all poets, including newcomers, both virtually and in person to be present for each other.
We believe that a poetry festival would serve to:
Highlight gigs, both regular and irregular
Provide a way for convenors and organisers to meet and support each other
Let the Melbourne public know that we have an amazing scene
Be a great and inspiring time
How we do it
(values)
___
In the creation, curation and organising of this event, we commit to the following values:
Better is better, not more is better
Creativity - imagining better futures without being locked into past limitations
Sustainable - for the environment, for ourselves, for the community
Trust in each other and in community
Honesty and transparency
Fairness
Accessibility
Respect
For the community, by the community, of the community
In addition, in our dealings with each other, we commit to making every interaction:
1. Healing
2. Fun
3. Honest
4. Sustainable