Literary arts

Join the Edmonton Poetry Festival Society at The Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP) Gallery for an exploration of why-wait-to-be-published-when-you-can-do-it-yourself chapbook production. Facilitators Big Al and Abbigail Ketsa offer a sample of some of the methods you could borrow or straight-up steal to create, decorate, and procreate your own unique chapbook. 

Members of the SNAP artist collective will also be providing a behind-the-scenes orientation into the printmaking techniques and technology available in the SNAP studios. Did you know they have a moveable type press? Well, you do know now! 

Registration: Limited. The registration method is currently to be confirmed, so mark it on your calendar and stay tuned! Visit edmontonpoetryfestival.com/2025-festival/events-schedule to stay up to date. 

April 17 2025,  7pm

SNAP Gallery
10572 115 St NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5H 3K6 Canada

April 14

The Blinks 2025 is not your robot’s poetry! This year is all about “Putting the Art in Artificial Intelligence”. This event is invented and presented by the Stroll of Poets at the Edmonton Poetry Festival and has been for 20 years, making it one of the Festival’s founding events — and our birthday twin!

The Blinks is a challenge to create a poem (a Blink) to perform in 30 seconds, MAX! Any subject or style is welcome… though do remember there could be kids in the audience! Blinks can be snaps of fun, or searing. They can be sad, inspiring, or silly. Whatever tickles your neural nets.

If you don’t feel like showing off your smARTofficial intelligence, don’t you worry! You can still absolutely come along to sit back and enjoy the algo-rhythms. 

Please arrive in good time. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the performance starts at 7 pm.

Reader Sign-Up: If you would like to share a Blink, sign up in advance by sending an email to strollofpoetsblinks@gmail.com to be sent more detailed information. 

Registration: No registration is required for general attendance.

Admission: $5 cash at the door.

Venue

The Aviary
9314 111 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5G 0A3 Canada

This year the Edmonton Poetry Festival turns 20! That’s 20 years coming together as a community to enjoy the varied poetic voices that ripple throughout our region. 20 years got us reflecting on the importance of community and how everyone – poets, artists, audiences, volunteers, collaborators and more – is essential to a successful festival. 

SO we’re throwing a birthday party for all our members and you’re invited. Not a member? Show up and we’ll make you one! We’ll have poetic performances from artists in the Festival, musical interludes (including Tzadeka and the Murder Hornettes), special guests, and of course, CAKE!  Refreshments will also be available for purchase / donation.

Registration: The method you can RSVP through is currently to be confirmed. Stay tuned — you don’t want to miss this! Visit edmontonpoetryfestival.com/2025-festival/events-schedule to stay up to date. 

Venue

April 11, 7:30 pm
Ortona Armory
9722 - 102nd st NW
 

Saturday, April 5, 2025
2 – 4 pm
Strathcona County Library

Celebrate National Poetry Month with an afternoon of poetry, hosted by Regional Writer in Residence Anna Marie Sewell and featuring two local poets, Kayleigh Cline and Don Perkins. There will also be an open mic session for those interested in sharing their own work. This event is co-presented with the Edmonton Poetry Festival.

Registration: Free but limited. Visit scl.bibliocommons.com/events/67c7645aa8a83528000fc560 to reserve your ticket. 

Event Series: Spotlight, Open Mic

Venue:
Strathcona County Library
410 Festival Lane
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 5P7 Canada

Poetry in the Gallery

Saturday, April 5, 2025
2 - 4 pm

The Southern Alberta Art Gallery is thrilled to partner with Owl Poetry Club for a special open mic event inspired by our current exhibitions. We will open the event with a poem from writer and artist Jordan Baylon, inspired by Lan “Florence” Yee’s exhibition Do Weeds Still Grow in Heaven? after which we will host readings from the Owl Poetry club members and other guests. We invite you to join us to share your work or listen to the fantastic poets of Lethbridge. 

This event is free for members and poets. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Heather Kehoe, Program & Event Coordinator at hkehoe@saag.ca.

Jordan Baylon (they/she) is a 2nd gen Filipina/o/x artist, community worker and kapwa futurist, born and raised in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), Treaty 7. Their work emerges from the intimate stories experienced by their diasporic multongbakla [queer ghost] body orienting itself to the irresistible urge of kapwa ("we relate therefore we are"). For Jordan, kapwa is felt as a powerful treaty-making offering, integrating anti-oppressive practices that morph to meet the complexity, nuance and systemic scales of colonial existence: poetry, performance, facilitation, video, ritual, design, strategy, care-work and witnessing.