Bellingen Shire Council’s Group Leader Community Partnerships, Maxine Compton, was involved in planning and delivery of the event.
“Council received a small grant through the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia’s 2025 Social Sciences Week Spark Grants program. “Being Bellingen Shire, we wanted to bring our own flavour to this initiative - and what better way than to host a Poetry Slam competition!” Said Ms Compton.
“Council was pleased to invite Olivia Parker, the Executive Director of Arts Mid North Coast, to MC the event. Arts Mid North Coast is the Regional Arts Development Organisation and peak body for the arts and creative industries across our region. It was fantastic to have Olivia’s perspective which helped shape the event.”
The poetry slam married big ideas like society, identity and unity to the experiences and creativity of performers, sparking important conversations surrounding the power of togetherness and connection in an increasingly complex world.
The event saw poets deliver their “Reclaiming Solidarity” pieces with confidence and passion, with each performance given a score from a panel of judges chosen on the night from within the audience.
A young duo, Finn Kolosque and Mala Colmer, took out first place with their poem ‘Finn and Mala’s Message’, a powerful piece discussing the challenges that arise for people living with disability. The duo received a $100 VISA Gift Voucher as a prize for their moving performance.
Second place was awarded to Jennifer Genest who took home a $75 voucher with third place going to Orly Grace. Both were new to the art of Slam Poetry and took the opportunity to attend the free Poetry Slam workshops hosted by local poet and former poetry slam winner, Jason Johns, held at the Bellingen Library prior to the event.
The preparation workshops were designed to help performers hone their writing and performing skills and get them ready for the main stage. The workshops were well attended and provided opportunity for performers to refine their writing skills and practice performing their poems before the big day.
“The Shire is known for its poetry slams, with the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival hosting a yearly sold-out show as part of their program,” said Ms Compton.
“Through the workshops at the library and the poetry slam event, Council’s aim was to encourage new people to have a go, build their confidence and give them opportunities to perform on the big stage, under lights and under similar judging conditions of the traditional poetry slam. It was great to see most of our performers at the event listing themselves as newbies to the artform.”
For Mayor Cr. Steve Allan, this event was about more than just performance poetry.
“Council’s goal with this event was to not only create space for important conversations, but to create an environment that fosters creativity and nurtures talent within our community,” said Mayor Allan.
“The arts are central to Council’s vision of a creative, connected and sustainable Shire – a place where ideas, culture, and art bring our community together”.
Thank you to all who came along to the Memorial Hall and got involved with the event. From the group of passionate performers to the audience members supporting the show – events like this wouldn’t be possible without you.
Orly Grace performing her poem that awarded her third place at Reclaiming Solidarity: Voices for Unity Poetry Slam
Jennifer Genest took home second place at the Reclaiming Solidarity: Voices for Unity Poetry Slam
Jason Johns presenting the poetry slam workshops at the Bellingen Library.