Poetry for the Polycrisis

Whether you are a long-time admirer of poetry, a closeted poet, or brand new to the world of poetry, b soft invites you to join them for the first instalment of their poetry workshop series titled, “Poetry for the Polycrisis”.

The focus of the workshop is to gather in community to explore, share, and hold space for the collective isolation, despair, and grief that have come to face so many of us in the mass disabling event that is the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, and the multiply-compounded crises surrounding it.

The structure of the workshop will begin with an introduction and warm-up to get to know each other, followed by grounding exercises. Our work as a group will be to then build a safe container together where we will brainstorm and dream up ideas of how to imagine a world rooted in collective care, liberation, and joy. We will then brainstorm and discuss how we can reflect those same hopes and desires not just into our own creative practices but into how we can best support and care for each other in the group during our time together.

We will read published poetry works that centre the stories, lives, and experiences of multiply marginalized identities such as disabled and trans folks, Black, Indigenous, and POC, People of the Global South, sex workers, unhoused folks, and PWUD to name a few. We will also commit to honour, respect, and hold additional space for those in the group who hold multiple marginalized identities by pausing to listen, reflect, and hold ourselves accountable, especially when asked to, and always with humility and grace.

We will explore our own individual creative expression through poetry writing exercises and then have intentional time to dive deep into our writing, inspired by prompts. Afterwards, participants are encouraged to share their work (if they wish). If time allows, we may even explore the possibility of writing a collective poem using a collaborative writing approach. 

What to bring: a KN95 or higher equivalent mask (and if you don’t have one, we’ll have free N99S at the door!), your favourite pen and/or journal, and comfy clothes to wear. Tea and water will be provided.

*Doors: 6:30 pm

*Event 6:45- 8:45 pm

*$6-10 (no one turned away from lack of funds, email [email protected])

*masks required

ARTIST BIO:

becca soft (or sometimes known as "b soft") is a white queer, non-binary immigrant-settler and descendant of Yugoslav-Hungarian diasporic ancestry living on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ territories.

Their most recent project, which inspired their workshop series, “Poetry for the Polycrisis,” was first launched as an interdisciplinary spoken word and electronic ambient DJ show that debuted this summer on Bside Radio.

becca's writing has been featured in literary anthologies such as Pearls and Everything is a Lab and has been featured to perform spoken word poetry on stages such as Victoria Poetry Project’s “Tongues of Fire” and Vancouver Pride Society’s “Hot Trans Summer” at the Ocean Arts Pavilion.

ACCESSIBILITY:

This event will be mask-required to prioritize the disabled and immunocompromised folks in attendance. We recommend you test for COVID in the days leading up to the event, stay home if you have been exposed to anyone sick or infected with COVID, influenza, or any other communicable disease, or been in any high-risk situations where exposure to airborne illness may have occurred. 

KN95 mask or higher equivalent respirators will be required to attend (no surgical masks). We will have plenty of N99S available for anyone in need of a mask. Please ensure the mask you wear is properly sealed across your nose, cheeks, jaw, and chin to prevent air from escaping. We will have three air purifiers operating in the room. 

There is a single wheelchair accessible bathroom. The main Enabling Arts entrance doorway is 35" in width, 81" in height and is not wheelchair accessible. However, the main entrance to our building is wheelchair accessible, and wheelchair users can access the unit accordingly.

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