www.traversepoetry.org

This month, with support from the Poets Union and the ACT Writers Centre, we’re celebrating National Science Week.

Get your set squares and chemistry kits ready – we want to hear your finest haiku on hydrogen, sestinas on sunspots and villanelles on ventricles!

BONUS poetical explosions from Melbourne’s Randall Stephens!

Traverse Poetry Slam: SCIENCE
27 August 7:30-11:00pm
The Front Gallery and Café
Wattle St, Lyneham

$3 / free for poets – sign up for a slot in the slam from 7.30pm.

Updated Traverse High Score Table…

1. CJ
2. Anthony Hayes
3. Tasnim Hossain

Next up in Traverse Poetry’s exciting list of (seemingly) random events is Hip-Hop Shop: a free workshop for young people!

Hip-Hop Shop with D’Opus and Roshambo
Free workshop for people under 30 – but you must book through the ACT Writers Centre:
email admin@actwriters.org.au or phone (02) 6262 9191
20 September 2:00-5:00pm
Ainslie Arts Centre
Elouera Street, Braddon

In case you don’t know, D’Opus and Roshambo are some of the best hip-hop performers in Canberra. They’ve played just about every festival here (Trackside, Corinbank, Stonefest) and are getting a huge response overseas – in no small thanks to Triple J’s huge airplay of the track ‘Million Dollar Bill’. Consequently I’m ridiculously excited I’ve managed to get them to run this free workshop. If you’re even slightly interested in poetry and music you should give the ACT Writers Centre a ring on (02) 6262 9191 and book today!

And, just before I go, the winners of the Green Slam:

1. Andrew Galan (of that Other slam)
2. Skip
3. Farida

In case you were wondering where that rather strange Twitter poem is loacted, point your web navigator to the The Longest Poem in the World.

Sorry about the late notice. I’ve been completely flat out trying to get my first ever zine ready for the fair this weekend. The night before the fair, this Friday, is a special poetry slam happening as part of the ACT Writers Centre’s SCRIBBLE: Young Writers, Young Readers festival.

There’s no cover charge for this slam so if you’ve got friends who you want to introduce to poetry slams, this is the night to drag them along!

We will have a smorgsbord of wonderful prizes, including copies of Block and First creative writing journals, Voiceworks magazines, novels from the ACT Writers Centre and a copy of your favourite poem printed on high-quality art stock paper by The Artworks… and that’s just to begin with!

Here’re the details for both of this weekend’s events:

Scribble Poetry Slam
Friday 6 February
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Bogong Theatre, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Ave, Braddon

Canberra Zine Fair
Saturday 7 February
10.00am – 5.00pm
QL2 Foyer, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie Ave, Braddon

See you there!

I’m going to be a bit unconventional and post about 2009 Traverse events out of chronological order – as you can see from the events page, there are a couple of activities planned for next year before the exciting Canberra Zine Fair. I’m doing this because I want to give people as much lead time as possible to get cracking on their zines.

Here are the details:

Canberra Zine Fair as part of SCRIBBLE: young writers, young readers festival
7 February 2009
Q2 Foyer
Gorman House Arts Centre
Ainslie Avenue, Braddon

Times are unconfirmed at the moment, but it’s most likely they’ll be like this year’s – i.e. doors open 9.30am and it wraps up in the early evening.

It’s entirely free to come a sell/trade your work (and we’re encouraging not just zinesters to be there – anyone who’s into self-publishing, DIY and etsy are welcome) but if you don’t have your own table the ACT Writers Centre are renting trestle tables at $10 per table (fits three people comfortably), payable on the day. Chairs will be free and plentiful.

Please send me a quick email if you’d like to book a spot!

There’s also a facebook event if you want to check out who’s going to be there (or at least claiming to be).