FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
James Michael Nichols, BRIC / 718.683.5980 / [email protected]
Elisa Smilovitz, A&O / 551.486.3273 / [email protected]
Legendary Brooklyn Poetry Slam Returns to BRIC House with Hosts Mahogany L. Browne and Jive Poetic on April 26
The beloved Brooklyn institution has virtually endured during the pandemic, attracting hundreds of devoted poetry lovers for a two-round poetry competition every single month.
Photo Credit: Liz Maney
(BROOKLYN, NY — April 11, 2022) BRIC, a leading arts and media institution, is pleased to announce the return of the Brooklyn Poetry Slam to BRIC House (647 Fulton) for the first time in over two years. The incredible evening of poetry and community will be led by co-founders Mahogany L. Browne and Jive Poetic with special guest poet Arhm Choi Wild. The free, in-person event will take place on April 26, 2022, at 7 pm. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Entry will be on a first come first served basis.
Brooklyn Poetry Slam is one of the longest-running residencies at BRIC, spanning eight seasons. The program’s success is rooted in the artistic force of writers, organizers, and educators Mahogany L. Browne and Jive Poetic. Browne was recently named the first-ever poet-in-residence at the Lincoln Center, and was selected as one of the Kennedy Center’s “Next 50.” She is the Executive Director of JustMedia, a media literacy initiative supporting the groundwork of criminal justice leaders and community members. Jive is similarly invested in activism through art, working closely with at-risk youth, teaching poetry and hip-hop workshops in the greater New York City area. He has received international recognition and support from the British Arts Council and the US Embassies in Australia, Brazil, and Poland. Both Browne and Jive’s commitment to community-building extend beyond their own writing – their dedication to Brooklyn Poetry Slam has allowed the program to become a space for free and accessible artistic expression and cultural exchange.
Brooklyn Poetry Slam is a monthly poetry competition and open mic night held on the last Tuesday of each month. Seven poets read their original work in a two-round poetry performance. In addition to the competition and open mic, each event presents a reading by a renowned poet; past events have included Tina Chang, Eboni Hogan, and Jon Sands. This month’s poet and social justice educator, Arhm Choi Wild, will read their original work.
Brooklyn Poetry Slam Co-founder, Mahogany L. Browne said:
“Brooklyn Poetry Slam is the antidote. We congregate with community to uplift the various and marginalized voices of this city and are constantly charged with breaking structures and silence with poetry and advocacy.”
BRIC SVP of Programs & Strategy Emily Harney said:
“Poetry Slam is one of BRIC’s most beloved programs. It truly brings our community together and has endured – and even thrived – within the virtual space during the pandemic. We can’t wait to welcome you all back to BRIC House for a night of poetry, competition, and nothing but good vibes!”
For more information about Brooklyn Poetry Slam:
https://www.bricartsmedia.org/events-performances/brooklyn-poetry-slam-apr-26-%E2%80%93-back-bric-house
To stay up-to-date on show information, RSVP here:
https://www.universe.com/events/brooklyn-poetry-slam-apr-26-back-at-bric-house-tickets-X8BFKQ
PERFORMER BIOS
Mahogany L. Browne, selected as Kennedy Center’s Next 50, is the Executive Director of JustMedia, a media literacy initiative supporting the groundwork of criminal justice leaders and community members. This position is informed by her career as a writer, organizer, & educator. Browne has received fellowships from Art for Justice, Air Serenbe, Cave Canem, Poets House, Mellon Research & Rauschenberg. She is the author of recent works: Vinyl Moon, Chlorine Sky, Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice, Woke Baby, & Black Girl Magic. As the founder of the diverse lit initiative, Woke Baby Book Fair. Browne’s latest project is a poetry collection responding to the impact of mass incarceration on women and children: I Remember Death By Its Proximity to What I Love (Haymarket Books). She is the first-ever poet-in-residence at the Lincoln Center and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Jive Poetic is a writer, organizer, and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. He received his BA in Media Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and his MFA in Writing and Activism from Pratt Institute. In 2017 Jive was the first recipient of the John Morning Award for Art and Service. He is the founder of Insurgent Poets Society, Carnival Slam: Cultural Exchange, and co-founder of the Brooklyn Poetry Slam. His work has been showcased on season four of TVONE’s Lexus Verses and Flow, PBS NewsHour, and BET. International recognition and support for his work has come from the British Arts Council; US Embassies in Australia, Brazil, and Poland; and the Minister Of Culture in Antigua and Barbuda. He has received fellowships from Air Serenbe and Rhode Island Writers Colony, and when he is not on tour or hosting, he teaches poetry and hip hop workshops to at risk youth in New York City and the surrounding area.
Arhm Choi Wild is the author of CUT TO BLOOM, the winner of the 2019 Write Bloody Prize. Arhm received a MFA in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College and their work appears or is forthcoming in Barrow Street, Blackbird, The Massachusetts Review, Pleiades, Split this Rock and others. They were shortlisted for the Poetry International Prize and received the Ellen Conroy Kennedy Poetry Prize, alongside fellowships from Kundiman, the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing. They work as the Director of the Progressive Teaching Institute and Diversity Coordinator at a school in New York City. For more information, visit arhmchoiwild.com.
ABOUT BRIC
BRIC is a leading arts and media institution anchored in Downtown Brooklyn whose work spans contemporary visual and performing arts, media, and civic action. For over forty years, BRIC has shaped Brooklyn’s cultural and media landscape by presenting and incubating artists, creators, students, and media makers. As a creative catalyst for our community, we ignite learning in people of all ages and centralize diverse voices that take risks and drive culture forward. BRIC builds Brooklyn’s creative future. Learn more at bricartsmedia.org.
Venue Information:
The Ballroom at BRIC House is a flexible performance space that accommodates a wide variety of configurations and performance styles. Located on the first floor of BRIC House. Visit our Accessibility page to learn more about access at BRIC.
Attendees of any BRIC House programming must show proof of full vaccination and photo ID for entry. Masks are currently required while inside BRIC House. If you have questions regarding this protocol, please email [email protected]. For our full BRIC House COVID-19 policy, visit: https://www.bricartsmedia.org/safety.
