Poetry can be a powerful medium for truth telling, personal expression, and social journeys - and a potent tool to eliminate bias and flip what we think we know on its head.

In this workshop for young poets (14-18), join Young Poet Laureate for Coventry Aamani Kanda (UK) and Australian Poetry Slam Co-Champion KJ Haywood (AUS) for an interactive look at how to craft great poetry with flint and heart.

This workshop will include a reading of the poem Aamani and KJ have collaboratively crafted in celebration of Poetry Month and Contains Strong Language, hands-on writing exercises and opportunities to share your work. Plus, you can polish up your draft and bring it back to the open mic session on Saturday 7 September.

Emerging poets and those with a more developed practice are welcome. Open to all poets aged 14-18, based anywhere in Australia or the UK.

Presented by Red Room Poetry for Poetry Month and Contains Strong Language in partnership with Apples and Snakes (UK) and Word Travels (AUS). This project is supported by the British Council.

Artist bios

Aamani Kanda is an 18 year old poet and Coventry’s Young Poet Laureate. She is inspired by the culture that surrounds her, and is passionate about representing it. Despite developing a unique style, her work is influenced by the Romantic movement.

K.J. Hayward is an emerging spoken word artist, and APS Co-champion of 2023. In her poetry, she intertwines stories of feminism, youth, mental health and her own journey transitioning from ‘normal’ schooling to Home-school with the rap, rhythm and rhyme of slam poetry.

Red Room Poetry is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and by the NSW Government in association with Create NSW. This event is supported by the Australian Government through the International Cultural Diplomacy Arts Fund, the British Council, the City of Sydney, and the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.