Say Anything/Something
Say Anything/Something is a community-based performance and workshop series connecting professional, emerging, and amateur artists, both visiting and local, with the wider Okanagan community through writing and performance. In this series, invited authors and performers will present work alongside emerging and amateur authors and performers, and offer accessible, free literary workshops to the public.
In 2024/25, the series has 5 events and 6 workshops. Each event features professional authors or performers paired with emerging authors or performers, and an open mic where people from all backgrounds and skill levels are invited to share their poetry, prose, music, and comedy in front of a diverse and encouraging audience. Through this combination of professional, emerging, and amateur presenters, Say Anything/Something creates networking, training, and knowledge sharing opportunities across practitioners of varying skill level and experience. Further, by blending local and visiting, as well as professional, emerging, and amateur artists “Say Anything/Something” breaks down antiquated and elitist artistic barriers, creating opportunities for community connection and mentorship not just in Kelowna, but across BC and Canada.
Say Anything/Something is an expansion of our yoothspohk program into an offering for people of all ages, as well as a reimagining of our writing workshops, which had seen a decline in attendance. It sees us reimagine our writers workshops from social to pedagogical: instead of providing a space for amateur writers to receive feedback from one another, we are presenting training sessions to develop their artistic skill and knowledge. Each free workshop will take place in accessible, local venues, with 15 in-person spots and be streamed online. The workshops will not be cumulative, so the public can engage in one or all the modules based on their interest.
The reading and workshop series culminates in a final, hybrid event, hosted at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art. Here, the participants in the workshops will get the opportunity to perform their music, poetry, comedy or other Spoken Word piece that they have created in the program alongside some of the workshop presenters.
This program is generously sponsored by BC Arts Council, Central Okanagan Foundation, The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, and the City of Kelowna.
Say Anything/Something 2024-2025 Events
Performances:
November 28, 2024: Norah Bowman and Alana Firedancer, 7:00 - 9:00 pm @ BNA Burger
January 30, 2025: Jo Güstin, 7:00 - 9:00 pm @ BNA Burger
March 20, 2025: Levi Bent and Ella Schmor, 7:00 - 9:00 pm @ BNA Burger
April 3, 2025: Jake Kennedy and Valeria Rojas Flores, 7:00 - 9:00 pm @ BNA Burger
June 19, 2025: Say Anything/Something Community Showcase, 7:00 - 9:00 pm @ the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
Workshops:
January 31, 2025: Jo Güstin, “Woke Comedy,” 6:00 - 9:00 pm @ Centre culturel francophone de l’okanagan
April 5, 2025: Jake Kennedy, “Writing Poems with Chicken Mind!”, 1:00 - 3:00 pm @ the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
May 17, 2025: Erin Scott and Cole Mash. “Intro to Spoken Word,” 1:00 - 2:30 pm @ UBC Okanagan, CCS 144
May 17, 2025: Erin Scott and Cole Mash. “Intro to Spoken Word,” 2:30 - 4:00 pm @ UBC Okanagan, CCS 144
May 31, 2025: TBA, 1:00 - 3:00 pm @ the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
June 7, 2025: Britt MacKenzie-Dale, “Fiction Workshop,” 1:00 - 3:00 pm @ the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
Click here for event details!
Note: All workshops are free and first come, first served, so arrive early to ensure your spot! No preregistration required.
