WordXWord Festival
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Participate

Below is a summary of open opportunities for poets interested in participating in WordXWord events. Click on the links to jump down to more detail or click here to register online to grab a spot in one or more events.

Poetry Slam - 2 Prelim/qualifying slams June 16 & July 14 - limited number of spots are open on a first-come basis

Poets Creating Conversation - Themed events open to poets of all ages willing to take the events challenge. Upcoming events June 25 & July 30

Poetry sCrawl - August 1. A “moving” open-mic style event open to all ages and themes.

Story Slam - July 31. First person, true stories - similar to NPR’s Moth Story Slam.

Head-To-Head Haiku - August 3. Poets compete one-on-one armed with only 17 syllables - limited number of spots are open on a first-come basis. Find out more about Head-To-Head Haiku including what you'll need to do to prepare

Outspoken Youth Poetry Workshop, Open Mic & Poetry Slam - August 4. Open to youth ages 12 - 20.

WordXWord Individual Poetry Slam

The WXW Poetry Slam Finals are August 4, 7P at the Berkshire Museum. To qualify for the finals, a poet must finish in the top 3 at one of the 2 qualifying slams. (The remaining 2 spots are by invitation.) There are a total of 16 slots available in the qualifiers. Poets ages 16 and up are eligible.

Qualifying Slams

June 16, 7P
Get the Rust Out Poetry Slam

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield
8 poets go two rounds, 3 will advance to the finals. Register online for one 8 slots in this slam

July 14, 7:30P
Second Chance Poetry Slam

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield
8 poets go two rounds, 3 will advance to the finals. Register online for one 8 slots in this slam

Poets Creating Conversation

PCC are themed events. They are open to poets ages 12 to 100+. Calls to action below.

June 25, 7P
Working In America

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield
For this event, the poet’s challenge is to use their art to explore and share personal stories centered around working in America - the challenges, triumphs and realities - from work we love to work that doesn't love us back. Register online

July 30, 7P
Summer In America

Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield
We’ve all had good summers and bad summers. There have been summers of love and summers of unrest. It’s summertime and it’s the 10th annual WordXWord Festival, so we’re asking poets to climb up the 3 meter board, step off and give us their best splash. Register online

Poetry sCrawl

Open to all ages, styles and experience level. The coolest thing to happen on North Street.

August 1, 4P
sCrawl Workshop

TBD Pittsfield
Poets of all ages & varieties are invited to join us for a generative workshop. And then stick around for the sCrawl and a chance to take your work for a walk. Register online

August 1, 6P
Poetry sCrawl

Starts and ends at Dottie’s, 444 North Street, Pittsfield
Poetry takes a walk Uptown finishing up back at Dottie's - followed by a potluck opening reception. Register online

Story Slam

July 31, 7P
Story Slam / Impeachable Offenses

TBD, Pittsfield
True stories, scored olympic-style. Register online

Find out more about what a Story Slam is and how to prepare for it.

Head-To-Head

August 3, 7P
Head-To-Head Haiku

Dottie’s, 444 North Street, Pittsfield
Head-To-Head Haiku is a good humored twist on the Poetry Slam format. Poets compete one-on-one armed with only 17 syllables. Register online

Find out more about Head-To-Head Haiku including what you'll need to do to prepare.

Outspoken Youth

August 4, 11A
Outspoken Youth Poetry Workshop

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield
For ages 12-20 Register online

August 4, 1:30P
Outspoken Youth Poetry Slam & Open Mic

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave, Pittsfield
Workshop participants ages 12-20 perform. Open to the public.