Inspired Word Cafe has always put the needs of our community first and foremost. After the Fireweed Eco-Fest, we wondered, would we do another Eco-Fest or create something unique? We wanted to continue with festival programming, but we needed to create programming that aligned with our values, listened to the needs and interests of the community, and could change alongside it. The inaugural New Leaves Festival of Arts and Culture takes the idiom “turning over a new leaf” as inspiration to focus on an annually changing theme speaking to expressed/urgent needs of the community.
Responding to a recent rise in anti-LGBTQ2SIA+ sentiment in the Okanagan and beyond, the 2024 New Leaves theme is “Queer Art as Resistance,” focussing on celebrating queer arts through drag, poetry, music, comedy, dance and more. For three days in Kelowna’s downtown core, a host of artists from from the Okanagan and across Canada will perform (in both French and English) and put on workshops.
Queerness isn’t always about gender or sexuality, rather, as scholar Janet Jakobsen writes, it’s also “resistance to norms and normativity.” Following this, New Leaves 2024 will not just celebrate LGBTQ2SIA+ voices, but explore art’s potential for resistance and change. In gathering for New Leaves 2024, we ask: How might art shift long-held societal perceptions of LGBTQ2SIA+ and other resistant communities? How might coming together to celebrate the contrast in our community help grow it into a safe and inclusive space for people from all walks of life?
Inspired Word Prize (and Anthology): a spoken word contest!
The Inspired Word Café is calling for spoken word poetry from the Okanagan for an anthology to be printed for our 15th season.
The Inspired Word Prize aims to celebrate the power of spoken word poetry within the Okanagan region, encompassing the vibrant communities from Osoyoos to Salmon Arm, and Keremeos to Lumby. This anthology project seeks to curate a collection of poetry that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our local poets.
A jury of IWC collective members, board members and staff will jury all submissions to choose the top twelve submissions to be printed in the anthology. The top three will receive cash prizes: first prize: $250; second prize: $150; third prize: $100.
Deadline to apply: July 7, 2024.
Submission Fee: $10 for members, $20 for non-members
Need to purchase a membership? Click HERE
(note, if you purchase a membership now, it will be valid starting September 2024 for the IWC Season 15. If you are a current member, please pay the member submission fee, and remember that you can renew your membership in September when our season starts up).
Please go to the SUBMISSION FORM to submit your poems and pay the fee.
Team Heroes or Team Villains: You decide!
The much-anticipated Inspired Word Café (IWC) Team Slam event is coming up on March 28th at BNA Brewing. Team Heroes and Team Villains will compete with their poetry to see who will reign victorious. A slam is a competitive event where poets perform original works to a lively and engaged audience.
The event is designed to foster high calibre performances, new work by local poets, and an interactive and rowdy night of fun for the audience. “Unlike other poetry events, a slam is interactive, with the audience playing a key role as the judges for the competition,” explains Ken Shaw, IWC collective member and one of the hosts of this year’s contest.
Read MoreWriting workshops offer space to develop your own work
In addition to running the open mic series, which offers a space for writers to share their poetry, writing, music, and more, Inspired Word Café (IWC) collective members also run writing workshops for anyone to share their work and receive in-person and direct feedback.
“Attendees are asked to bring 10 printed copies of a piece of writing, not to exceed two pages, to be reviewed by an inclusive and positive group of fellow writers,” explains IWC collective member and workshop facilitator, Ryan Ennis.
Read MoreOpen Mics return with more chances to get on stage
Now in its fourteenth season, the Inspired Word Café (IWC) is pleased to plan more events giving local literary artists more opportunities to share their writing.
Read MoreJob Posting - Administrative Assistant
Inspired Word Cafe is seeking applications for an Administrative Assistant. This position provides a wide range of administrative duties which supports the Executive Director and will run from August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024.
Read MorePoetry Slam Gets Magically Sci-Fi in Epic Genre Showdown
The storied, epic battle of Science Fiction vs. Fantasy will be decided at IWC’s Team Poetry Slam on March 23rd. Join us at the BNA Tasting Room from 7:00pm – 9:00 pm to enjoy live music from local band Twin Towns, and to find out who will reign victorious.
Read MoreSuccessful fundraiser for the Living Positive Resource Centre raises $3000
Last week a sold-out audience enjoyed an evening of drag and musical entertainment at the Pony Cabaret held in the Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
Read MoreUBCO PROFESSOR HELPS REIN IN PONY CABARET COMEBACK
Top-class entertainment, queer culture, music and food combine for a good cause as Pony Cabaret returns to Kelowna.
Read MoreINSPIRED WORD CAFE KICKS OFF SEASON 13 WITH ECO ART IN THE PARKS
Inspired Word Café announces the first annual Fireweed Eco-Fest! The festival takes place over three days, September 23-25, 2022 and features an array of events from spoken word, comedy, music, and more!
Read More