ATTENTION POETS - ALL skill levels!

November 20, 2025

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Get ready for the last Poetry Slam of 2025. Music begins at 6:00; performances at 7pm. Call Watermark Art Center at 218-444-7570 if you’d like to pre-register to guarantee your spot. Register on site as space allows. Please limit your performance to 3 minutes or less so there is time for all who want to perform.

No fee to perform. No fee to watch. watermarkartcenter.org/poetry-slam-news

Poets should prepare three original SLAM! poems – one for each round, new in the last three years, never previously performed at a state or local event, and each under three minutes reading time.

A poetry slam is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. Poets are not required to memorize their poems and are welcome to use notes.

While formats can vary, slams are often loud and lively, with audience participation, cheering and dramatic delivery.

Judges, selected from the audience, give each reading a score on a scale of 1 to 10. The poets with highest scores advance to a second, then third round. The top three in the final round of a regular slam win cash prizes. Prize money varies.

Thanks to Bemidji Area Arts Endowment and True North Health Care for sponsoring our 2025-26 season.