Free State poetry veterans are set to dazzle and serenade the audience with their poetry that made them fan favourite during the 3-day FS Veteran Poetry Festival scheduled to take place from 10-12 October at the Performing Centre of the Free State (PACOFS) in Bloemfontein, Free
State.
The festival is organized by Charmza Literary Club, a publishing company in partnership with PACOFS. It will therefore honour, revitalize and celebrate poetry in the Free State while also providing a platform for young poets to showcase their talents. They have immersed experience and wisdom, and have guided the youngsters on how to succeed and build careers in poetry.
This festival will feature book launches, poetry workshops and performances by 10 poets who began their journey in Bloemfontein in 2004. 200 grade 8 to 11 learners will be trained by veterans on how to write and perform poetry as part of the festival and will be gifted books
and other art packages.
In 2003, poetry was born at PACOFS , when 15 poets met, armed with their handwritten poems, hungry for ears to hear their work and have a sense of belonging. The first poetry show was held in front of a small audience. They met weekly to write, perform and introduce poetry to
the Free State community. 20 years later, the FS poetry fraternity has grown tremendously.
20 poetry anthologies have been published and launched. Countless poetry shows have been held, poems written and local poets have performed nationally and internationally on bigger platforms.
“The festival will revitalize the poetry movement and merge two generations of poets and of audiences,” said Charmaine Mrwebi from Charmza Literary Club.
Organizers are calling on high school learners to form part of the festival. Learners in grades 8-11 who are passionate about poetry, have written poems or who simply want to get paid through poetry to form part of the festival.
The learners should send a sample of 2 of their original poems, must include their name, grade and school, and provide their creative teacher details (name, email and contact numbers). They should send the information to 0715573231.
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