Poetry Month is a new initiative presented by Red Room Poetry to increase the profile of Australian poetry and poets. Our goal is to increase access, awareness, value and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences. The inaugural Poetry Month will be held during August 2021 as an ongoing annual celebration.
In 2021, Poetry Month activities will span:
- signature programs such as 30in30 (daily high profile poetic commissions), Middle of the Air (poetry meets songwriting competition), Fair Trade (an international First Nations poetic exchange) and Poets in Residence (alongside our existing Poetry Fellowship)
- partnered online poetry/spoken word showcases, workshops and international readings
- a live-streamed poetry review show with guests hosts/curators
- engaging a range of Poetry Ambassadors
- a community/sector-driven national Poetry Month Events Calendar
- cultural-placemaking Poetic Moments in various public spaces
- participatory initiatives Poem in Your Pocket and Write a Poem-a-Day (daily prompts with prizes)
- amplification of poetry publishers, book stores and poetry in libraries
- a national youth poetry competition
Key Dates
- Poetry Month Launch Date: 21 March 2021 (World Poetry Day)
- Poetry Month: 1– 31 August 2021
We are in our initial stages of planning and continued consultation, if you’d like to contact us in regards to possible partnerships or sponsorship – or how your organisation can be involved – please email us at: poetrymonth@redroompoetry.org