Saturday, July 22, 2023
11:30am-1:00 pm (SK time)
Victoria Park (North East Corner), Regina, SK
Free
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The Creative City Centre presents Regina Word Up!
Regina Word Up is excited to offer programming to celebrate summer in the square in downtown Regina. Enjoy poetry in the park with a showcase of original work by 5 local poets, Sydney Taylor, Vanessa Wraithe, Samantha Van Luven, Ell Bird and Austin Ahenakew AKA The Noble Savage!. Get involved in writing poetry of your own with family friendly writing prompts presented as part of our Just Write initiative.
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Just Write – Wondering about trying your hand at writing poetry? Haven’t written anything in a while? No problem! We’ll kick things off with our “Just Write” segment which provides writing prompts and time to scrawl out new words that can be shared. (Sharing optional.) Paper and pens provided.
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Showcase Performances – Five local up and coming poets will share their work in 10-15 minute sets.
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Feature Poets
Sydney Taylor
Sydney is an actor, aspiring director, theatre artist, and poet from treaty 4 territory. They are crip and queer and want to create unapologetic art that honours and reflects that.
Vanessa Wraithe
Vanessa Wraithe (She/Her) is a Queer, Neurodivergent, multidisciplinary artist based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Wraithe earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the University of Regina (2022), worked as the Visual & Media Arts Summer Student Assistant for the Organisation of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC), and is currently an administrative Coordinator at SK Arts. Wraithe’s artistic practice addresses a diverse range of themes through the exploration and manipulation of various mediums in a meditative, process-focused approach.
Ell Bird
Ell Joy Bird is a 2Spirit writer & artist residing on Treaty 4 territory in Moose Jaw. Ell’s poetry aims to articulate the feeling of being face to face with injustice from the perspective of an intersected minority. Visceral images and raw emotion communicate the process of moving through suffering and lament towards hope.
Samantha Van Luven
Sam began writing at a young age as a way to converse with herself. She considered her poetry love letters to herself as she healed through times of turbulence. Being able to write allowed her to narrow down her thoughts, and self concept. Sam’s writing has always been about connecting with her deeper truths and vulnerability. She now shares her poetry out loud as a way to not only connect and share with listeners, but hopefully stimulate others to dive into their own vulnerability to deepen their self understanding.
Austin “The Noble Savage” Ahenakew
Austin “The Noble Savage” Ahenakew has a unique style that weaves rhythm into storytelling and announces an urgent truth from the perspective of an Indigenous youth. Bringing an unapologetic approach to Indigenous struggles, abuse, PTSD and how skin colour is viewed. He brings sweet words to stage without sugar coating any part of the truth.
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GUIDELINES, COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS AND CONSENT STATEMENTS
At the Creative City Centre we always strive for inclusivity and respect in the community both inside and out of our facility, which is why we have compiled the following guidelines to remember both for our events and also in everyday life.
• We encourage respecting the way folks self-identify, without assuming gender, sexuality, orientation, religion, or ability.
• We understand that at times folks may need to leave or engage in other methods of self-care, and that’s okay.
• We encourage language that promotes inclusivity, education, and awareness and dislike all forms of explicit ignorance including, but not limited to, hate speech, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and classism.
• We encourage the culture of consent meaning we respect people’s physical, verbal, and emotional boundaries. This means respecting that some people might not want to be hugged and if you want to engage physically in any way with a person it is important to ask permission before doing so.
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Regina Word Up is a program of the Creative City Centre. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage, SK Arts, City of Regina, and the Canada Council for the Arts that make programs like this one possible. We are grateful to Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID) for their support with this event.
