Overview
If you like words and you live in Brisbane, the last month has been mighty spectacular. First, Brisbane Writers Festival returned for 2022. Now, Emerge — Queensland Poetry Festival is back as well — because this town is home to multiple citywide celebrations of literature and language.
As always, this tribute to waxing lyrical has compiled a diverse program that showcases the artform in a number of ways. Focused around the titular theme — that'd be 'emerge' — the lineup ponders coming out of the chaos of the last few years, how poetry itself breaks into the world, plus talents emerging to prominence themselves.
After an online lineup in March, Brisbanites can now head to the in-person component from Friday, June 3–Sunday, June 5 at the Judith Wright Arts Centre. On the program: readings of Indigenous poetry to kick off the fest, an up-late poetry lounge, a chat about LGBTQIA+ poetry, pondering poetry's power when facing climate change and the pandemic, a session on erotica, a focus on mental health and more.
And, doing the speaking and performing: a roster of talent that includes Busty Beatz, Madina Ahmad, Lisa Fa'alafi, Hot Brown Homies, Simone King, Jazz Money, Janaka Malwatta, Tony Norris, Felicity Plunkett, Samuel Wagan Watson and Nicholas Powell. Yes, the list goes on.
Maeve Baker, 'Do Your Chores, Try Not To Think Too Much, And Repeat', 2020, IMA Belltower Façade Projection. Commissioned by the Institute of Modern Art for 'Making ArtWork'. Photo: Charlie Hillhouse.
Top image: Queensland Poetry Festival.
Features
Information
When
Friday, June 3, 2022 - Sunday, June 5, 2022
Friday, June 3 - Sunday, June 5, 2022
Where
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts420 Brunswick Street
Fortitude Valley