Literary Event: Coastal Poets Live

Coastal Poets LIVE is where words come alive! 

This brings together the Central Coast's growing community of poets, spoken word artists and lovers of language. Hosted by local poet Robert Edmonds, each event showcases a featured guest poet and an open mic, creating space for both seasoned performers and first-time readers to take the stage. 

Explore the incredible diversity of poetic expression, from slam poetry and spoken word to haiku, free verse, lyric poetry and experimental forms. Every month offers something new, inspiring and unexpected. 

Coastal Poets LIVE is dedicated to building a vibrant, inclusive and supportive poetry community on the Central Coast where all ages, cultures, identities and creative voices are welcomed and celebrated. 

Whether you're ready to perform or simply soak up the atmosphere, join us as we connect through creativity, conversation and the transformative power of poetry. 

This month's Featured Poet: Ronald Araña Atilano

Ronald Araña Atilano is a multiple prize-winning Filipino-born poet who will be flying in straight from his recent Katherine Susannah Pritchard residency in Perth. His poetry has appeared in Rabbit Poetry Journal, Island, Westerly and Cordite magazines and many other publications. Ron’s artwork has been exhibited too, most recently at the Nobbys-Whibayganba Lighthouse in Newcastle.

Ron’s bilingual poetry book “New Ordinance for the Dead” has been described as poetry with “elegance, restraint, beauty, simplicity and empathy” and is published by Flying Islands Press. Copies will be available for $12.50 at the event.

Join us from 12:00pm for lunch and happy hour specials before the poetry begins. Open mic sign-ups open at 12:30pm, where you can secure a two-minute reading spot to share your work (places are limited, so get in early!). Prefer to sit back and soak it all in? You're very welcome to come along and enjoy the performances. 

The event officially starts at 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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