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Upcoming Events & Calls for Artists/Poets

Find events and opportunities for artists including calls for public art. Find events and opportunities related to our Poet Laureate programs.

Upcoming Events:


MC Poetry Contest Showcase 
(Duncan, BC)
Thursday, May 22 at 7pm 
Join Youth Poet Laureate Paige Pierce at the 2025 MC Poetry Contest Showcase. Open to the public. Tickets will be available for purchase. Organized by the Cowichan Foundation. More information & tickets. 

Read, Reflect, and Write with Poet Laureate Neil Surkan
FREE | Drop-In | Harbourfront Library Meeting Room
Wednesdays, Jun. 4 at 7pm
An opportunity to develop skills as a poet and collaborate and learn from others. 

Poetry in the Harbour with Neil Surkan and Marie Metaphor Specht
FREE | Drop-In| VICC Piper’s Lagoon Lobby (Entrance at 80 Commercial St.)
Wednesdays, Jun. 11 at 7pm
Join Poet Laureate Neil Surkan and Victoria’s former Poet Laureate Marie Metaphor Specht, as well as special guests, Mary Ann Moore and Lee Groan for an evening of poetry!  

Marie Metaphor Specht is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, and educator living on the unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən- and SENĆOTEN-speaking peoples. A long-time member of the Canadian spoken word scene, Marie was the 6th Poet Laureate of Victoria, British Columbia (2023-2025). In addition to her independent practice, she has collaborated with filmmakers, lighting engineers, dancers, and musicians to create immersive and interactive works. Marie believes in the transformative power of this art form and has had the privilege of coaching and creating space for poets and spoken word artists of all ages.
 
Marie’s poetry has been published in Oratorealis, Untethered Magazine, Chestnut Review, The Hellebore, and Room Magazine, among others. Her debut full-length poetry collection, Soft Shelters is out now with Write Bloody North Publishing (2023). For more information: www.mariemetaphor.com | Instagram: @mariemetaphor

Current Calls for Artists/Poets:


Youth Poetry Competition
Deadline: Sunday, June 15th, 2025 by 11:59pm
Calling all youth poets! The City of Nanaimo’s Youth Poet Laureate, Paige Pierce, is hosting a Youth Poetry Competition. Submit a poem of any style, length, or topic for a chance to win prizes! Poems must be appropriate for school-aged audiences. In order to be eligible as Nanaimo’s Youth Poetry Contest, candidates must be under the age of 18 (youth) and reside within the City of Nanaimo Region. MORE INFORMATION. 

Questions?

Please reach out to the Culture & Events team using the info below.

Contact Us

Culture & Events
250-755-4483
cultureandevents@nanaimo.ca

Last updated: May 7, 2025

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