Spoken Word Workshop: Writing Beyond the Lines with Billie Nell
Schedule
Sat Nov 08 2025 at 12:00 pm to 01:30 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Arts Court/Cour des arts | Ottawa, ON
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Join us for another edition of Truth to Power, a writing and performance workshop series on wellness through the lens of community, solidarity, advocacy, and activism. This workshop is presented by Urban Legends Poetry Collective in partnership with ChromaQueer Film & Arts Festival: urbanlegendspoetry.ca chromaqueer.caThis month’s workshop, Writing Beyond the Lines, will be led by transmasculine, autistic, award-winning spoken word artist and theatre creator, Billie Nell.
In this workshop, writers of all levels are invited to explore how vivid metaphor and striking imagery can be used to unsettle dominant narratives and normative paradigms and create moments of deep connection across difference.
Through reflection, writing, sharing, and connecting to our senses, we will delve into the ways the visceral and unexpected can open new pathways towards empathy, understanding, and change.
While this workshop will apply a queer lens, participants of all genders and sexual orientations are welcome. At Urban Legends Poetry Collective, we recognize that all forms of oppression and struggles for liberation are interconnected, and believe in the power and value of sharing creative space.
No previous experience in poetry required. Pull up with whatever you write with!
😷 FACE MASKS REQUIRED
📅 Sat., Nov 8
📍 ODD Box, Arts Court
⏰ 12:00 - 1:30PM
💵 PWYD (suggested donation: $10): ticket link coming soon, limited spots available!
Accessibility: Step-free access. Accessible and inclusive washrooms. Alcohol-free space. Face masks required and available as needed. Pay-What-You-Decide tickets.
Truth to Power explores how creative expression and spoken word poetry can be channeled as a means of enacting change, fostering dialogue, and disrupting systems of power and oppression. Each workshop creates a brave space where writers and performers can examine the intersections between wellness and collective liberation. Whether you’re an activist seeking to integrate wellness into your advocacy work, a writer or artist interested in the political dimensions of personal narrative, or someone just beginning to explore how your personal experiences connect to broader systems and social realities, Truth to Power invites you to discover how your voice can be an instrument of both personal healing and social transformation.
ChromaQueer is produced by Qu'ART (Ottawa Queer Arts Collective), DARC (Digital Arts Resource Centre), and MAX Ottawa, alongside a number of Ottawa community partner organizations.
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Billie Nell (he/him) is a transmasculine award-winning theatre creator, actor, arts organizer, and spoken word artist who has performed on national and international stages including: the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam, Scottish Poetry Slam Championships, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival StAnza Slam (2020, 1st place), and the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. His one-person play, The Remembering, was awarded the Ottawa Fringe Awards of Excellence for Outstanding New Work & Outstanding Solo Performance and the Prix Rideau Awards for Outstanding Performance & Outstanding New Creation. Billie currently serves as Co-Director of Urban Legends Poetry Collective. With over a decade of experience in the Canadian arts scene, and cross-disciplinary expertise spanning spoken word poetry, theatre, and dance, Billie is a seasoned arts organizer who champions arts education, community-building, and accessible arts programming through grassroots, equity-focused initiatives that bridge disciplines and build meaningful connections with diverse communities.
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Where is it happening?
Arts Court/Cour des arts, 2 Daly Avenue ,Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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