For Black History Month we once again share a list of community groups, nonprofits, historical resources, and artists. The list of black-led nonprofits contains links to websites and/or donation information. If you want to expand your poetry reading list, we include an extensive (and growing) list of recommendations. We have … Continued

Nurturing as a medicine is the focus of this year’s festival. We celebrate the power of the spoken word with the 2023 theme, Gathering Found Family Back Around The Table. Spoken word and page poets, storytellers, singer-songwriters and improvisers will join us at the festival, including: Sheri-D Wilson, Louise B. … Continued

Gratitude, honouring peers, and recognizing excellence are vital parts of building community. Verses Festival of Words | Vancouver Poetry House is pleased to continue the tradition of stewarding the Zaccheus Jackson Nyce Memorial Award that is now open for submissions until April 10, 2023 @ 11:59 PM PST. Via online submission: https://forms.gle/9zqvXiU9ojCKhVDY7 … Continued

For Black History Month we want to again share a list of community groups, nonprofits, history books, and artists. The list of black-led nonprofits contains links to websites and/or donation information. If you want to expand your poetry reading list, we’ve again included an extensive (and growing) list of recommendations. … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on May 13, 2022 Description The Artistic Director (AD) has overarching artistic control over all of Vancouver Poetry House’s programs and initiatives. The Artistic Director develops new artist directions, nurtures and coordinates the growth of VPH’s artistic vision, and … Continued

Britta B. is a Toronto based award-winning artist, poet, voice actor, and educator. Her work has appeared in print, in sound, and onstage in notable spheres such as The Walrus Talks, TEDx, as well as international literature festivals, most recently being LitFest Bergen. She facilitates leadership and artist training, poetry … Continued

This month Joseph Dandurand, Artistic Director at Vancouver Poetry House, will be stepping down from his position.  Joseph has been a calming, kind, and generous presence with Vancouver Poetry House for over two years. He has always approached every meeting, event, and task with a good mind and good heart. … Continued

There are many options for supporting and honouring National Truth & Reconciliation Day on September 30. Some of these include: Xweýene:msta:m ?əkwəsqwel, seýeḿ (translation: call to witness/listen to respected one). This is a performance to honour Orange Shirt Day on Thursday, September 30, 2021, presented by the Vancouver Art Gallery.  … Continued

Monday, September 27, 8pm PST Featuring Charlie Petch https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/vancouver-poetry-house… Come share your words & magic and as a bonus, compete for cash prizes. Also compete for a chance to battle a Slam legend head to head live (details on this coming soon) If you’re like me you’ve missed this gathering … Continued

Vancouver Poetry House is proud to announce the publication of Cotyledon, a collection of spoken word poems newly emerged into the world, still seeking their place. These gently crafted poems started as a whisper, a brave thought, or an inkling; poems that dream the world into a future we want … Continued

The Vancouver Poetry House Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2pm, using BlueJeans Please register to attend the meeting using eventbrite. Everyone is welcome to the AGM but only members will be able to vote.  Become a Member or Renew Please consider renewing or becoming a … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 16, 2021. Description The Slam Coordinator oversees VanSlam, a Vancouver Poetry House weekly open mic and spoken word event at Café Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. The Slam Coordinator has strong interpersonal skills, coordinates … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications onJuly 6, 2021. Description The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for generating and maintaining a body of volunteers for multiple events throughout the year. These include, but are not limited to, VanSlam, Verses and workshops. The roles volunteers take are … Continued

The position will be open until filled. We will review applications on July 6, 2021. Description The Education Coordinator works as part of a collaborative team helping Vancouver Poetry House Society maintain and grow our WordPlay program and expand our teaching relationships with external partners. This position could be suitable … Continued

The discovery of 215 unmarked graves on the grounds of the Kamloops Residential School has laid bare to the world the stark and painful realities of Canada’s colonial legacy. This National Indigenous History Month please consider donating to the following Indigenous-led organizations: The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) is … Continued

Communication can be challenging right now. To keep everyone informed we have put together a brief overview of work happening behind the scenes at VPH from the volunteer board.   Obviously, this year has been a struggle. Our goal is to offer as much virtual programming as possible and by … Continued

Nisha Patel is an award-winning queer poet & artist. She is the City of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate, and the 2019 Canadian Individual Slam Champion, and the 2021 Regional Writer in Residence with the Strathcona County Library. She is a recipient of the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award and the University … Continued

Khaleefa ‘Apollo the Child’ Hamdan is a spoken word poet, hip hop artist, radio host, youth worker and is the former co director of the Urban Legends Poetry Collective. Apollo created the free after school youth writing program Youth Speak with the Ottawa Public Library and he hosts the Home … Continued

Nisha Patel is an award-winning queer poet & artist. She is the City of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate, and the 2019 Canadian Individual Slam Champion, and the 2021 Regional Writer in Residence with the Strathcona County Library. She is a recipient of the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award and the University … Continued

As we arrive at the midway point of Black History Month we want to keep in mind that 2020 hit community groups, nonprofits, and artists especially hard. The following list of black-led nonprofits contains links to websites and/or donation information.   If you’re looking to expand your poetry reading list, … Continued

We invite you to participate in GivingTuesday, the global day of giving.  Following the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this is a time to support charities, non-profits, and each other.  With Covid -19 shutting people and communities off from one another, the weather becoming more inclement, and the … Continued

An Interview With Johnny Trinh   In an effort to support, promote, and inform we will be publicizing the events, experiences, and work of local poets on our blog. On Monday, July 20th the pilot program of a unique workshop was launched by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver. Its … Continued

We are ready to take your bids! Need a new dance track? Got something to write but can’t find the pen? Missing the grilled cheese at Café Deux Soleils? We’ve got something for you in the auction catalog. Bidding closes on Saturday, October 10 at 11pm

The Vancouver Poetry House Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2pm, using BlueJeans Everyone is welcome to the AGM but only members will be able to vote. If you are a member in good standing we sent you an invitation to the meeting with the login information. … Continued

Summary The Financial Coordinator is responsible for working with the Artistic Director and Arts Administrator to fulfil the financial reporting requirements of being a non-profit Society in BC and a registered charity in Canada. The financial coordinator makes sure that the society’s records meet ASNFPO standards, while also providing regular … Continued

Listed among the core values of Vancouver Poetry House are social justice and community; we hereby acknowledge that the VPH Board of directors has failed to uphold these values. The purpose of this statement is to acknowledge the ways that we, personally, and the organization, historically, have perpetuated systemic racism … Continued

There are so many people we need to thank! First, thank you to everyone who is helping to keep VanSlam going! and thank you to our 2020 festival artists who are busy making works we can share while social distancing. More on this soon… and thank you to our Verses … Continued

  At the request of community members and with the goal of increasing access to board minutes we are in the process of adding them to the About dropdown list. This will prevent people from having to search through the blog, or to request minutes. These will be organized by … Continued

If you are a Canadian slam venue and you have a representative you want to send to CIPS, registration opens on February 1. Register on brown paper tickets, CIPS 2020 Venue Representative Registration. Not a venue representative? Storm Poet Registration opens March 1. Got questions? Contact our CIPS Director at cips@vancouverpoetryhouse.com or … Continued