PROJECT DESCRIPTION

WordStorm + the National Poetry Festival Online

Love words? Help us bring the Poetry Festival online, somewhere we can all enjoy it!

There is a growing poetry scene in Australia, supported by established and internationally recognised poets, songwriters and performers. However, not all of us have the opportunity to hear, read and appreciate the broad range and outstanding quality of contemporary Australian poets and poetry, let alone share the experience with others and engage in a discussion about it.

Poetry in Australia is diverse, exciting and innovative. It makes you stop and feel and is critical to our culture, uniting people regardless of background, language, age or location. It can inspire, connect, change attitudes and incite action. If only all Australians had access to this powerful source of literary entertainment, an ever growing rumble, that’s getting louder and about to explode around the country.

Last year, Australian Poetry put the National Poetry Symposium, A Poets’ Perspective, online. This year we want to do more...

What is the National Poetry Festival?

The National Poetry Festival is a physical gathering of poets, wordsmiths, readers, writers, slammers, jammers, lyricists, performers, speakers and singers, in one place at one time, to share, discuss, debate, dissect, and draw attention to the succinct selection of words and the order we place them in to make meaning. This year the festival is being held in Darwin, 10–13 May, in conjunction with WordStorm, as a partnership between the NT Writers Centre and Australian Poetry. There are many national and international guests and it’s sure to be a significant occasion for poets and poetry in Australia.

Why put it online?

Putting this festival online will allow more people to see and interact with selected events at the National Poetry Festival. This online festival will provide opportunities for people, who aren’t there or able to make it to the festival, to interact with the program, ask questions and make comments.

• We want to be able to get more events at the Festival online
• We would like to see more live interactivity
• We would like to be able to promote the online festival widely, increasing access and debate
• We want every poet and poetry fan across Australia to be able to be part of the festival
  
  

Who are we?

Australian Poetry is a not-for-profit national organisation that is committed to promoting Australian poets and poetry. We develop innovative programs to help further engage Australians with the art form.

See more of what Australian Poetry does here: www.australianpoetry.org

What is the money for?

With your money, we will be able to:

• provide a way for people to view selected events at the festival without physically being there
• provide opportunities for people unable to attend the festival to interact with the program
  
• staff the online component
• edit film and sound
• upload material
• moderate content and comments
  
  

Basically, the larger your pledge, the better the online festival will be!

Getting information

We will keep you updated on everything to do with WordStorm and the National Poetry Festival Online through our website, Pozible updates, Twitter and Facebook.

There is no such thing as too small a pledge so all supporters will be thanked on the Pozible site!

We love to hear what you have to say too, so please contact us by email or twitter!

Links:

www.australianpoetry.org

www.facebook.com/AusPoetry

www.twitter.com/AusPoetry

www.ustream.tv/channel/AusPoetry