We have an exciting workshop for those interested in blackout poetry and it will tie in with Bird of the Year!

What is the workshop about?

You love voting for Bird of the Year, right? Well, this year Bird of the Year turns 20 and NZPS is offering you the chance to level up your enthusiasm by attending an online workshop focused around making art that celebrates native birds.

Over Zoom, Hebe Kearney (founder of Blackout Poetry Aotearoa), will lead you through the history and methodology of blackout poetry, before helping you craft a blackout poem celebrating our native manu. Bring along a text that involves them, vivids of your choosing, log on and get ready to learn about how blackout poetry can be used to awhi important causes, concepts or even creatures!

Our workshop facilitator:

Hebe Kearney is a queer, pākehā poet from Ōtautahi who now calls Tāmaki Makaurau home. They are also a proponent of ‘found art’, and creator of Blackout Poetry Aotearoa. Their poetry has appeared in places like: Mayhem, Poetry Aotearoa Yearbooks, Starling, Sweet Mammalian, Symposia, takahē, The Spinoff, and Turbine. You can follow their antics on Instagram as @he__be or @blackoutpoetryaotearoa. 

How to book your place

The workshop is limited to 20 participants and the cost is $15.00. If you are interested, then email info@poetrysociety.org.nz with the subject heading ‘Blackout Poetry’.

You will be assigned a number, and on Thursday, September 18, a random generator will select the 20 participants. This is to give everyone interested a fair go.

So, please make sure you can come on September 21 at 11.00 in case your name is drawn!!