Join IWC to experience the creativity of local poets and storytellers.
Inspired Word Café (IWC) is launching a new season, bringing poets and audiences together to celebrate the power of words.
For the past 16 years, Inspired Word Café has been a cornerstone for creative expression in the community, offering live poetry events where local voices can be heard, workshops for youth and adults featuring professional artists from near and far, and a yearly festival with a changing theme.
Inspired Word Café creates space for writers and audiences to come together through live poetry events where community members share their work. IWC also welcomes guest authors and poets, who join the community on stage at their Reading Series events. A highlight of the season is their queer cabaret, Pony!, which celebrates its 10th year with Pony! The Musical. This comedic variety show is part of the New Leaves Festival of Arts and Culture, their annual literary festival that occurs over three days in March.
“Not only is Pony! queer representation in our literary community in Kelowna, it’s also a really fun, and sexy, and silly time. We wait for it to return every year!” says Pony! co-hosts Erin Scott and Michael V. Smith. “We have lots of wild plans for this year.”
The first Open Mic is scheduled for Thursday, October 2nd at BNA Burger at 7:00 pm, with special guest Joshua Whitehead. Whitehead is a 2Spirit, Oji-Cree writer and member of the Peguis First Nation whose writing is critically acclaimed nationally and internationally. Doors and sign-up are at 6:30 pm. BNA Burger offers a minor-friendly environment, with both food and drink served during our events. The space is wheelchair accessible and offers single user, gender neutral washrooms.
“We have a wide-range of events on offer this year,” Mash adds. “With a large turnout for our programs, we can see the community’s appetite for the literary arts which shows how vital IWC is for fostering creativity, connection, and a thriving cultural scene.”
IWC has a busy season coming up this fall. IWC is organizing readings at Nuit Blanche on Oct. 11, and hosting a special Halloween edition of the Open Mic at Hello Darlin’ on Oct. 30th. They are also presenting multiple featured readers: Michael V. Smith on Nov. 4 and Joanna Cockerline on Nov. 27.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.inspiredwordcafe.com
IWC programming is supported by the City of Kelowna, the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Central Okanagan Foundation, British Columbia Arts Council, the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan, Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union, and BNA Burger.
Media Contact: Britt MacKenzie-Dale, britt@inspiredwordcafe.com
Jo Güstin performs at a Season 15 Open Mic event. Photography by Travis Andrews.
A singer performs at a Season 15 Open Mic event. Photography by Travis Andrews.
About IWC
Inspired Word Café Society (IWC) is a community arts-organization that provides accessible, low-cost literary and performance art programming (including events, education, and mentorship) for local writers, performers, and word lovers from many walks of life, including youth and other equity deserving groups across the Okanagan.
We believe that participation in the literary and performing arts is not only a right for everyone, both as consumers and to creators, but is also a vital part of the creative and emotional well-being of our local community.
Find out more at www.InspiredWordCafe.com