Literary arts

Week 1 (ages 11 – 14): July 13-18
Week 2 (ages 15 – 19): July 20-25

Early Bird rate: $630
Regular rate: $655

Location: Red Deer Polytechnic, Red Deer

WordsWorth is a week-long sleepover creative writing residency for young artists who believe in the power of words and storytelling. Campers will be completely immersed in the creative and diverse world of writing. Guided by established and respected artist-instructors, the young artists will experience writing through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, spoken word, music, movement, and more. But the experiences don’t begin and end with the classes; WordsWorth is a place where young artists come together to celebrate writing through friendship, campfire stories and songs, concerts, open mic sessions, hikes, haiku, and semi-competitive games outside of class.

Learn more and register online: writersguild.ca/programs-services/wordsworth

In 4-weeks, you’ll learn how to creatively express your burning thoughts, dreams, and passions with conviction! Throughout this series, you'll explore your favorite moving works of art and take part in group discussions. You’ll also have the chance to create your own work and say what’s on your mind in a safe, collaborative, and supportive environment. 

This class is great if you love music, poetry, movies, theatre, and more. Come ready to discover your power through words and images! 

Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/say-it-like-you-mean-it

Ado Nkemka is a pop-rock musician and multidisciplinary writer (theatre, poetry, journalism) with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Her artistic practice and education inform her perspective, channeling her visceral responses to personal experiences through art while interrogating power, her own identity development, as well as her relationship to self and the outside world.   

From 2022-2024 she was a part of Mount Royal University's Artist as Changemaker residency program, collaborating with the Alcove Centre for the Arts on a project titled "Letters to my Younger Self; Exploring Inclusivity in the Arts." She has also worked on Western University's FAARM project since early 2024, sharing her songwriting knowledge with NaAC artists. 

Ado has performed at Sled Island, SoundOFF Summit, and FoundFest, among other events. She was a part of the 2023-2024 TD Incubator program offered by Arts Commons and also participated in MacEwan University's TD Artist in Residence program. Ado's music has been broadcasted across Canadian radio stations including CBC, CKUA, X.92.9, UMFM. 

Edmonton Poetry Festival Celebrates 20 Years with Month-long Festival and Local Focus.

Edmonton, AB – The Edmonton Poetry Festival Society (EPFS) proudly unveils its official artwork and programming for the 2025 Festival, marking two decades of celebrating poetry in the city. This year, the theme is all about local energy, talent, and partnerships. The festival’s official image, The High Level Magpie, by Ashley Rosenow of Illustrious Interiors, embodies Edmonton’s creative spirit. Featured on the exterior of the iconic High Level Diner, the magpie symbolizes the city’s poetic vibrancy. 

The 2025 Festival Programming runs throughout April’s National Poetry Month, showcasing local poets, open mics, regionally based publishers showcase, and collaborations with local arts organizations. New initiatives include:

• Full month-long programming – Previously a week-long celebration, the festival now expands to a full month in honor of its 20th anniversary.
• Project: The Twenty – An anthology of twenty young poets, inspired by the theme "my turn of phrase."
• High Level Bridge lit with EPF colours – On Friday, April 4, the bridge will glow at night in the two shades of blue that reflect the Edmonton Poetry Festival.

The festival is bursting with unique events, including open mics, book launches, and diverse community programs like the French Twist (for the francophone community), Deaf Poetry Jam, a collaborative poetry night with Rapid Fire Theatre, and "Sage" poetry events with elderly folks.  

There are workshops, a poetry-music event with our city's current Poet Laurette, and a 20th anniversary birthday party for the festival. 

Join us in celebrating 20 years of poetry in Edmonton! Visit our website for more details. 
to edmontonpoetryfestival.com