The Banff Centre Pilot Program - Educational

Together with the Banff Centre, the Calgary Spoken Word Society organized a Creative Writing Pilot Program for Spoken Word at the Banff Centre. For seven days in April, 20 Poets/Producers will summon the muse in the mountains with workshops, collaborations, interviews, readings, hot springs, creative time and performances/readings. This pilot program will be one of the first of its kind, once again confirming Calgary, and area, as the epicentre of Poetry and Arts in Canada and the world!

SWAN Initiative - Network Gathering

In July 2005 - the Calgary Spoken Word Society and the Banff Centre invited 17 international Spoken Word artists and organizers to meet and the Banff Centre to discuss possible directions for the genre of Spoken Word. "Spoken Word" is unique because it stems from the oldest tradition (the oral tradition) and yet it is the newest form of poetry. Because of this, it is vital that directions and possibilities are explored and discussed.

Out of this meeting SWAN (Spoken Word Arts Network) emerged, and this year the CISWF and the Banff Centre have invited 20 artists to participate in a second SWAN meeting. This three-day meeting will follow the Spoken Word Pilot Program, and will propel the possibilities of future networking, and a new language for discourse, education, dissemination and collaboration.