Local poets will raise their voices Saturday and join an international movement for change.
The second annual 100,000 Poets for Change - a global event that brings together artists calling for environmental, social and political change - returns to The Well on Fort Street at 7 p.m.
"The idea is to show the power of poetry as a tool for social change," said Jeremy Loveday, who coorganized the event with Richard Olafson. "In other countries, poets are sent to prison for speaking out. And I think in North America, the role of poetry is changing and being recognized as a great way to call for change."
Though it began with poets, the event has expanded to include musicians, painters and dancers in more than 800 cities around the world.
The movement is global, but the focus at each event is on local issues. Everything from homelessness to global warming, racism and censorship may be covered through readings, concerts, workshops and flash mobs.
The Victoria event, which remains poetryheavy, will include readings and performances by a mix of spoken-word and page poets.
"The lineup is half spoken-word and half page poetry, so it's one of the first times that that's happened in Victoria, in terms of that many poets [coming together] and that calibre of poetry," Loveday said.
Performers include: Olafson, Loveday, Matthew Christopher Davidson, Jacob Arts, Duncan Regheir, Yvonne Blomer, Doug Beardsley, Dennis Reid, Stephen Scobie, Iain Higgins, Erin Cotton, Steven J Thompson, Linda Rogers, Barbara Pelman, Justin McGrail, Gautham Krishnaraj, Morgan Purvis-Bellamano, Comrade Black and more.
