City of Saskatoon and Downtown Saskatoon launch Poetry Downtown project
The Poetry Downtown project features poems from ten local poets displayed on the Third Avenue poster directories between 19th Street and 23rd Street in Downtown Saskatoon. The theme of the project is Kindness – acts of.
Launched at the beginning of October, the project will be on display until May 31, 2024. A Call for Submissions was issued in March of 2023. Selected poets and their poem titles are: Bronwen McRae: Kindness, Danica Lorer: Treats, Danielle Richardson: In a Garden, Elaine Nieman: A Reflection on Kindness, Jaime Speed: Home, Josiah Nelson: Love Poem, Rita Bouvier: say it ki sî wâ ti sô win, Robert Benz: Anthem, Sonia McWilliams: Kindness, and Tyler Lee: Saviours.
The goals of the project are:
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to reflect on the theme of Kindness – acts of
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to provide opportunities for artistic expression in the city centre
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to inspire the public through poetry
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to connect the work of local poets to the community
A walking tour of the Poetry Downtown project, with readings by the poets, will be taking place on Saturday, October 14 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The tour starts at the Senator Hotel (corner of Third Avenue and 21st Street). Participants are asked to register in advance: dtnyxe.ca/poetry-downtown
Poetry Downtown was inspired by a challenge from Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada Louise Halfe encouraging municipalities to bring poetry to public places.
The public is encouraged to walk along Third Avenue and reflect on the poetry. The Poetry Downtown project is a partnership with Downtown Saskatoon.
For more information, please visit saskatoon.ca/artsandculture.