Award-winning interdisciplinary researcher, ethicist, educator, poet and spoken-word artist Dr. Julie Bull will be facilitating an online workshop series on spoken-word poetry, through the P.E.I. Writers’ Guild (PEIWG).
Taking place on Tuesday evenings through the month of November, Drop the Mic: Intro to Spoken Word will offer those interested in the spoken-word genre a chance to learn about the form and gain performance experience in an online space.
“I’m thrilled to be collaborating with the P.E.I. Writers’ Guild on an event that highlights the art of spoken-word poetry,” Bull said. “As facilitator, I’ll introduce the basic tenants of spoken-word art and provide space for participants to write and perform a new poem. I look forward to seeing what creations come from this collaboration.”
Born in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L., Bull now resides in Prince Edward Island. In March 2020, she was awarded a residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in the Indigenous storytelling and spoken-word program. Bull put those skills to work in the summer of 2020 where she was a top winner at the PEERS Alliance/PRIDE P.E.I. OUTspoken Poetry Slam, as well as a performer in the Island Fringe Festival’s Pounding the Pavement: Celebrating and amplifying artists from the fringe.
Drop the Mic: Intro to Spoken Word will run Tuesdays in November from 7–8 p.m. Participants will gather in a private Zoom location, rather than in-person.
“We are so pleased to offer the chance to our members to benefit from Julie Bull’s experience and knowledge,” said PEIWG executive director Mo Duffy Cobb. “And offering this workshop online not only eases some administrative red tape, with the evolving COVID-19 situation, but it also adheres to the Guild’s commitment to be more inclusive, as part of our new strategic plan.
This way, those living in other parts of the province who may not want to drive to Charlottetown to participate in one of our workshops will have the chance to engage with an experienced spoken-word artist.”
PEIWG president Christine Gordon Manley added, “to align with our commitment to represent diverse and Indigenous voices, the PEIWG is offering two spots for writers from diverse backgrounds.”
Anyone wishing to apply for one of these spots is asked to email the PEIWG at [email protected].
Participants will interact with Bull on such topics as: What is a poem and how does it become spoken-word art, elements of poetry, patterns of sound and collective poetry writing.
Participants will also be given writing prompts and have the opportunity to write their own poems, either independently or in a shared working environment.
The final session will be a virtual poetry slam where participants will have the opportunity to perform their pieces.
“This is the Guild’s first foray into the digital workshop world,” explains Duffy Cobb. “Offering this workshop as a four-week series will allow space for creativity between workshops sessions – something that is also new for the PEIWG, as we usually workshop in a daylong setting.”
The cost of this four-week series is $40 for Guild members and $50 for non-members. To register and for more information, visit peiwritersguild.com.
