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Iowa City Poetry

Iowa City, IA

GIG Fund

FY2024

About

Acclaimed poet Danez Smith headlines Mic Check Poetry Fest, a two-day celebration of spoken word and its power to bear witness, create community, and inspire change. The festival opens with Smith — a Black queer writer and performer — sharing their poems in two shows before live audiences, along with queer Nuyorican spoken word poet Denice Frohman and the teen poets of IC Speaks. The following day, Smith will lead two hybrid poetry writing workshops, one designed for adults and the other for teens 13-18. The festival seeks to celebrate renowned BIPOC and LGBTQ spoken word poets, inviting all Iowans to joyfully resist forces that would silence Black and queer voices. Because cost should never be a barrier to participation in the arts, all events at the festival are low-cost to adults and free to teens.

Award Details

  • GIG Fund
    Grant or Award Received
  • Iowa
    Location
  • $4,000
    Grant Amount
  • 2024
    Fiscal Year of Award

About the Organization

Official website

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