Upcoming events and workshops
NAPPY presented by NAPPY Dance Collective Second Show
NAPPY’s second season features bold works by Cindy Ansah, Tiara Matusin in collaboration with Christahh Ahh, Shermar Herbert, Jared Tobias Herring, M'Kayla Kongnetiman, and Mpoe Mogale. plus a dance film by Sam Darius. The event includes a Black business market, gallery, pre-show concert, and afterparty. A new livestream feature captures the evening’s journey, celebrating contemporary Black expression and creativity.
NAPPY presented by N.A.P. P. Y. Dance Collective - Opening Night
NAPPY’s second season features bold works by Cindy Ansah, Tiara Matusin in collaboration with Christahh Ahh, Shermar Herbert, Jared Tobias Herring, M'Kayla Kongnetiman, and Mpoe Mogale. plus a dance film by Sam Darius. The event includes a Black business market, gallery, pre-show concert, and afterparty. A new livestream feature captures the evening’s journey, celebrating contemporary Black expression and creativity.
4th Annual Trinidad & Tobago Independence & Republic Day Celebration
21 September 2024
Join Us for the 4th Annual Trinidad & Tobago Independence & Republic Day Celebration! 🇹🇹
Get ready for an afternoon of entertainment, fun activities, and celebration with the TTCAC! This is a **FREE EVENT** open to the public, so bring your friends and family for a memorable day of festivities!
📅 Date: September 21, 2024
🕑 Time 2:00 PM - Until
📍 Location: 3208 8 Ave NE, Calgary
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to celebrate T&T’s rich heritage and vibrant spirit. There will be multiple artists, delicious food, and so much more!
Stroll of Poets Venue Curator
All day poetry Festival at various venues in Inglewood, Calgary
Organised by Ashley Frerichs and the Writer’s Guild of Alberta
Curated Stroll of Poets festival Venue by aloT of Poetry featuring music by Tobi Sinclair
Featured Poets:
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Follow The Alcove Centre for the Arts on Instagram
Bethel is an educator, poet, musician, entrepreneur, and nature-lover who is passionate about making cities more enjoyable. Passionate about making Calgary a more welcoming city for all, Bethel founded Raw Voices in 2016 a spoken word, comedy and music show that runs monthly with open mics and feature performers. Currently, Bethel is the Executive Director and Co-founder of Alcove Centre for the Arts. Alcove is a non-profit recreational art space with the mission to make arts more accessible by creating welcoming spaces where everyone can foster their creativity. Visit the recreational art space in the heart of downtown: 244 7 ave SW which is open 5 days a week for drop-ins!
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Gee is a poet originally from Republic Democratic of Congo. As her life commenced in a refugee camp in Uganda, she began a journey of self-discovery to find her true identity in the midst of a life of moving to different lands she has called home. Her poetry is influenced by the many façade of her life, as a child of African descent raised in a dominant French environment. She shed light on the difficulties that comes with being raised in two different worlds and cultures, as well as finding oneself amidst the anxiety of belonging and the power of self love when dealing with mental health. Through her work she reflects her love for nature as well as the night sky and the similarity we have to the world surrounding us. She began writing poetry at the age of 12, until it became a big part of her adult life. Between careers and many changes in her 20's she began exploring her love for poetry, by performing at various open mic and slam events throughout Calgary, as well as building bonds in the art community. She aspires to further her art with future plans to create a poetry book. Discover more of her poetry on her page on instagram at: poet_gee
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Amandella Chevon Joseph is a Dominican-Canadian writer, based in Calgary, Alberta. She has been writing and creating for over ten years. Amandella has a background in both Social Work and Psychology. This further informs her creative process. As a writer and change-maker, she has dedicated her talents to weaving stories that showcase diverse and intriguing voices. Ms. Joseph specializes in crafting pieces that disturb, disrupt, and redefine the human experience. She has written and published many short stories, most notably, "The Deafening Thirty" and poems, including "His Hands" and "Feel Like This". Amandella has also recently completed her first novel, a work of historical fiction entitled, "The Lotus Bond". Her areas of greatest interest and community involvement are diversity and inclusion.
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joyandsorrows is a Nigerian poet and spoken word artist based in Calgary, Alberta. While pursuing her Chemistry degree at the University of Calgary, she pursued a music minor, which inspired her to self-publish her first poetry book, ‘The Trails of a Wild Sunflower’. Intrigued by the concept of duality, her work explores the co-existence of 'light' and 'dark,' 'joy' and 'sorrow,' along with the grey areas in between, trying to make sense of her psychology and the world around her. She has performed as a featured spoken word artist at the BIA’s Blackfest, Alcove’s open mic night, and for the Single Onion poetry reading #199. Often accompanied by music or other sounds, her performances embark on a journey of self-love, heartbreak, and a longing for stillness.
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The Merchant of Poetry is a slam and spoken word artist from Calgary, Alberta. She began her poetry career in 2018, when her close friend bullied her into joining her high school slam team. She began competing in the Alberta youth slam, Can You Hear Me Now, continued on to be a regular at The Calgary Poetry Slam, and was a finalist at the 2023 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam. She is currently a student at the University of Calgary receiving a Bachelor's degree in English with a Certificate in Creative Writing. Most of her work is epistolary, exploring themes of feminism, queerness, and spite.
Stroll of Poets, a non-profit organization based in Edmonton since 1991, has a rich history of running an annual one-day, multi-venue performance poetry festival in Calgary and Edmonton. Although the festival transitioned to a monthly reading series in Edmonton, our Program Coordinator Ashley Frerichs has revived the original festival format in Calgary. With a grant from The City of Calgary, Ashley has invited a diverse group of local curators to enhance the event and I’m excited to be one of them!
As a part of this awesome festival, I'm thrilled to be curating my own venue, showcasing an eclectic mix of poetic talent from experienced to emerging at Rosso Inglewood!
This Writers’ Guild of Alberta event is supported by the City of Calgary, the Stroll of Poets Society, and additional sponsors like the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society and the Calgary Spoken Word Society.
Join us for a celebration of poetry and community!
Bookshop At Esker: Deanna Bowen: Beyond the Art: Poetry Performance and Panel Discussion
I have curated an amazing evening of poetry and discussion with The Bookshop at Esker and Esker Foundation.
We invite you to an evening of enlightening exploration of creativity and expression with captivating poetry performances by Tanecia Cromwell (T and Poetry) and Calgary’s 6th Poet Laureate, Wakefield Brewster, as they respond to Deanna Bowen: Black Drones in the Hive. Joined by author, historian, and filmmaker Cheryl Foggo, the three will delve into a discussion about the importance of Black history, storytelling, narratives, and their impact on society.
About Cheryl Foggo:
Deanna Bowen (b. 1969, Oakland; lives in Montréal) is a descendant of two Alabama and Kentucky-born Black Prairie pioneer families from Amber Valley and Campsie, Alberta. Bowen’s family history has been central to her work since the early 1990s. She makes use of artistic gestures to define the Black body and trace its presence and movement in place and time. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship (2016), a Governor General Award for Visual and Media Arts Award (2020), and the Scotiabank Photography Award (2021). Bowen is editor of the 2019 publication Other Places: Reflections on Media Arts in Canada.
About Tanecia Cromwell:
Tanecia Cromwell, known as T.and.Poetry, is a multifaceted Afro-Indigenous artist and public speaker based in Canada. Her family’s roots trace back to historical events such as The Book of Negroes, where her ancestor Jerome fought for freedom and settled in Nova Scotia in 1783. Tanecia’s journey spans from her childhood in Nova Scotia to her experiences in Toronto and Calgary, where she confronted the incomplete narrative of Canadian Black history. Following the events of 2020, she embarked on a mission to educate and advocate for marginalized communities through public speaking and poetry. Her engagements include delivering land acknowledgments, joining organizational roles, and performing spoken word at various events. Tanecia’s passion for sharing history and personal experiences drives her creative endeavors, fostering connections within Calgary’s artistic community. She continues to evolve her artistry and community engagement, welcoming new opportunities for expression and connection. Follow her journey on Instagram @t.and.poetry.
About Wakefield Brewster:
In January 1999, Wakefield Brewster stepped onto his first stage as a poet and spoken word artist. Today, he is known as one of Canada’s most powerful professional performance poets. A Black man raised in Toronto by parents from Barbados, he has resided in Calgary since 2016, and it is in the “New West” where Wakefield has been able to truly flourish as a Poet and as a person. Throughout his career, Wakefield has been published in several anthologies, such as T-Dot Griots (2004), The Great Black North (2013), The Calgary Project (2014) and The Black Prairie Archives: An Anthology (2019). Since moving to Calgary, he has produced two Professional Recordings to his credit, such as da lyrical pitbull (2007) and east2west (2008). He is a three-time Calgary Poetry Slam Champion & Team Captain (2006, 2008-2009), the inaugural Poet of Honour at the 2011 People’s Poetry Festival, a former poet-in-residence at Arts Commons and The Grand Theatre, and a member of the Canadian League of Poets. In 2021, he was named the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy Calgary Poet Laureate from 2022-24, and in the 2021-22 season at Arts Commons, he was a participating artist in the TD Incubator program at Arts Commons under the guidance of Incubator Fellows Contra and Jae Sterling.
About Deanna Bowen: Black Drones in the Hive
Curated by Crystal Mowry
Organized by the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. Circulated in partnership with the MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina.
For more than twenty years, Deanna Bowen’s practice has evolved from its roots in experimental documentary video into a complex mapping of power as seen in public and private archives. Research and exhibitions are rarely mutually exclusive modes for Bowen, in part because her subjects are capable of revealing new perspectives over time. Whether it is through strategies of re-enactment or dense constellations of archival material, Bowen’s work traces her familial history within a broader narrative of Black survival in Canada and the United States.
Calgary Poetry Slam
Doors open at 6:30PM
Sign up opens at 7:00PM
Show starts at 7:30PM
Tickets are at the door, cash only!
General Admission - $10
Student or low income - $5
Writer's Guild of Alberta Annual Conference business and Poetry Panel
Join aloT of Poetry and other panelists for this pre-conference panel discussion where we’ll delve into the business side of poetry from the perspective of professional poets across the various facets of the poet’s experience – performance and slam, teaching and facilitating, publishing, editing, building your personal brand, and leveraging social media.
Zizi and Friends
An immersive night of art and music hosted by local musician ZIZI.
I will be performing poertry and there will be some amazinfgvendors, music and more !
artwork by @chromacreations.ca
Calgary BIPOC Professionals Mixer
At this event, we will also delve into the topic of unlocking financial opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs. Navigating investments and loans is crucial for business growth, and understanding these aspects can significantly impact your entrepreneurial journey.
Stormy Weather: League of Canadian Poets National Poetry Month event
Poetry/Music: With: The poetry of spoken word champion, Sudy-Ann Brown from
Jamaica, award winning Nigerian-South African poet: “aloT of Poetry”, Haiku poet Skylar
Kay, Storyteller-poet and host Cassy Welburn, and multi-modal artist, Laurie Anne Fuhr of
Blue Bird Telegraph!
Weather alert: you might be over the moon.
Sunday, April 14th at noon Calgary Unitarian Hall 1703 –1 St. N.W.
12-2 pm Free POETRY AT NOON - SPEAK OUT!
National Poetry Month event
Black History Month Story Café: From the Black Immigrant's Perspective
Come and experience an evening of tales about Black History Month from the perspective of African immigrants through music, spoken word poetry and storytelling.
Hosted by: SARAH UWADIAE
February 28, 2024
6:30 - 8:30 pm
By Donation: $20 or pay what you can
BHM Presents: Beyond a Token with Calgary Public Library
Courtney Walcott Ward 8 City Councillor, BHM and Alcove Centre or the Arts Presents: Beyond a Token Arts showcase and panel discussion about the importance of Black Art beyond tokenism.
Free Registration
Single Onion Reading Series #199
The Single Onion #199 Celebrates emerging Black writers in Calgary with this month's edition curated by aloT of Poetry. The podium will be graced by Joy Idowu (joyandsorrows) and Bianca Guerra-Walker.
The Single Onion is Calgary's Longest Running Poetry Reading Series organised by David Martin.
WHEN: Thursday, February 15, 7pm
WHERE: Shelf Life Books, 1302 4 St SW
Alberta NDP Caucus BHM Celebration
Poetry performance and Panel, Thursday 8 Feb Alt Hotel East Village. Free Registration, Food, Drinks and important covnersation !
Discover your poetic Voice: Spoken word Poetry Workshop with Alcove Centre for the Arts
explore how writing poetry can be a therapeutic outlet, helping you express the unspoken words we may sometimes find hard to communicate to others. Then, we'll get hands-on with poetic performance, playing with pauses, inflection, gestures, and breathing techniques— to help you deliver your words with impact and authenticity.
The Oratory Presents 'Words Unbound'
An interactive talk show where we spectate and create in the name of tangible and radical healing through the arts, play, and storytelling.
Join host Priscilla Cherry for The Oratory at The Alcove Centre for the Arts!
This interactive talk show invites you to spectate, participate, and create all in the name of tangible and radical healing through the arts, play, and storytelling. We will be creating a space where we can embrace the comfort (and discomfort) of sharing our stories in relation to Humainologie's Short Story Festival theme, 'Words Unbound'.
There will be a guided conversation with guest aloT of Poetry, spoken word artist and the founder of “Poetic Designers”, who will also perform a piece. The show will conclude with a sharing circle featuring selected storytellers from the Short Story Festival.
Wakefield Brewster Presents, Pt. 1
I’m excited to be featured at my 4th Arts Commons Caberet and my second time participating in the Td Incubator program!
Raw Voices 7th Birthday
An eclectic night of spoken word, comedy and music with open mics and feature performers. Check out the diverse line-up of local performing artists, and join the open mic (sign up at doors) if you would like to take the stage!
There will also be a “recreational art space” with a variety of art supplies to get creative with such as coloring books, sketchbooks, clay, card games, reading material, collage materials, board games and instruments
The GRAND Presents: "Thank You, Sir Charles" Curated by Wakefield Brewster Showcase & Panel
This February we are proud to present “Thank You, Sir Charles” at The GRAND. Curated by The GRAND’s Poet in Residence and Calgary’s Poet Laureate, Wakefield Brewster, this multidisciplinary production is a celebration of Black History Month and a showcase of black artists and artistry. This cabaret will feature tap dance from Lisa La Touche and a special screening of her film ‘TRAX’, as well as poetry and spoken word performances by Wakefield Brewster, Chris L. Butler, Tanecia Cromwell, Adetola Adedipe, and Sholley Powell.
Witching Hour Poetry: Celebrate International Women’s Day
Celebrate International Women’s Day with performances from some of Calgary’s finest poets:
aloT of Poetry
Audrey Lane Cockett
Cobra Collins
Erin Dingle
Micheline Maylor
Sheri-D Wilson
Ehnik Festival of Arts & Culture
This will be my third time performing for Ethnik Festivals. I’m excited to represent African Poets on this stage of this amazing festival that celebrates the diversity in Calgary.
Venus: Future LoveArts Commons TD Incubator Cabaret
Featuring a guest appearance by rapper and videographer Gbohunmi and live performances by electronic R&B and pop trio Lost Decade and spoken word poet Bubba B the MC and aloT of Poetry, as well as visual projections by Mackenzie Bedford,Venus: Future Love will turn the heat up in the cold of outer space.
Come early and stay late to meet the artists in our intergalactic lobby featuring tunes by Catfishthewizard (Feb. 10) and DJ Jadé (Feb. 11). - Arts Commons
"A talk show that takes place in a spaceship is exactly what we all need." - Afros in tha City
ALL THE WAY UP
Hosted by Cobra Collins and Josie Veness, All the way up is an amazing Open mic events started at the Legendary venue Koi and has moved venues to The Attic YYC- an iconic live event venue found on the Music Mill in Inglewood, Calgary.
Northern Oracle reception with Heather Hart + Spoken Word Performance
Join me and 3 other amazing spoken word artists Wakefield Brewster and Tenecia Cromwell at the Illingworth Kerr Gallery at the Alberta University of the arts ( AUARTS) for the reception of Northern Oracle reception with Heather Hart
2nd AnnualAfrican fashion Week Calgary
I will be performing for the second time at African Fashion Week Calgary! Use my code alotofpoetry10 for discounts on your tickets!
February In August Poetry Showcase
February in August is a showcase curated and hosted by Calgary’s 6th Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster that showcases local talented Black spoke word artists and poets.
Venue at High River Summer Series 2022
Join me at Venue at High river for my first ever arts festival!
