poetry slams
ULPC Slams are competitive poetry shows consisting of two rounds of poetry with a time limit of 3 minutes each (bring TWO poems!). Five randomly selected audience judges score each poem on a scale of 1 to 10. The highest and the lowest scores are dropped, and the sum of the middle three scores makes up the total score for the round. Top poets from round 1 move on to round 2, and at the end of the slam, each poet’s first and second round scores are added up to determine the winner. Standard ULPC Poetry Slams are open-sign up, and include a feature performance by a professional spoken word artist. There are also a few open mic slots before the slam begins.
Certain ULPC Slams may diverge from the standard format. For example, our qualifier slam for the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam typically has an invited panel of community judges, does not include an open mic portion, and consists of three rounds: a two-minute round, a four-minute round, and a three-minute round.
Interested in trying the slam, but have some questions? See our FAQs, Slam Rules, or drop us a line.
broken mics
ULPC Broken Mics are open mic shows where artists can share creative work of any sort. Typical slam rules do not apply in the Broken Mic, so things like musical instruments, props, and costumes are welcome! Our open mics provide an avenue for artists to experiment and share their work in a non-competitive context. Open mic slots are 5 minutes long, and artists can share however many poems/pieces of work they would like within that time period.
ULPC Broken Mics are open-sign up, and include a feature performance by a professional spoken word artist. Occasionally, Broken Mics also include a “Spotlight” performance by an up-and-coming artist in our local community. There are also a few open mic slots before the slam begins.
truth to power
Truth to Power is a public writing and performance workshop series on wellness through the lens of community, solidarity, advocacy, and activism. Each workshop is led by an invited professional spoken word artist and explores how creative expression and spoken word poetry can be channeled as a means of enacting change, fostering dialogue, and disrupting systems of power and oppression. This program is rooted in the recognition that wellness is not a solitary pursuit, and true healing becomes possible when we link our personal stories to larger movements for justice and liberation.
Each workshop creates a brave space where writers and performers can examine the intersections between wellness and collective liberation. Whether you are an activist seeking to integrate wellness into your advocacy work, a writer or artist interested in the political dimensions of personal narrative, or someone just beginning to explore how your personal experiences connect to broader systems and social realities, Truth to Power invites you to discover how your voice can be an instrument of both personal healing and social transformation. In doing so, we are reminded that our stories have the power to ripple outward and inspire broader social change.
Interested in learning more about ULPC’s arts education initiatives? Click here!
sCRIBBLIN’ IN THE MARGINS
Scribblin’ in the Margins is a slam and open mic series which was created with the intention of centering and celebrating voices that have been historically marginalized. Each Scribblin’ in the Margins event functions like a regular slam, but the sign up list is open to artists from specific communities. Scribblin’ in the Margins currently consists of two streams: the BIPOC Slam and Beyond the Binary. The sign-up list for the BIPOC Slam is open specifically to BIPOC artists. The sign-up list for Beyond the Binary is open to Two-Spirit, trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, genderfluid, agender, and/or other gender-nonconforming identities. Everyone is welcome to attend all Scribblin’ in the Margins events.
Scribblin’ in the Margins is produced in partnership with The Other Hill.
poetry in the park
Poetry in the Park is an outdoor open mic series held in the Summer months at Parkdale Park. There is no feature poet at Poetry in the Park events, and the shows center around open mic performances from our local community.
Urban Legends Poetry Collective 