Spinvis, Aracelis Girmay and Zoë McWhinney at 56th Poetry International Festival

Poetry is everywhere. It buzzes through your speakers, stands on bridges and walls and nestles in our hearts. The 56th edition of Poetry International Festival therefore has as its theme: Word on the street. The poetry of everyday life will be presented from 4 to 7 June with inspiring readings by the best poets from all over the world. Among others, Spinvis, Dominique De Groen, Aracelis Girmay, Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad, Zoë McWhinney, Radmila Petrović and Caleb Femi will recite. Ticket sales have started via this link.

Spinvis, gives an in-depth interview about his creative process. Also performing are poets such as Dominique De Groen with raw, ominous readings and Aracelis Girmay, who highlights the beauty of nature as well as themes such as violence.

Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad is the new Poet Laureate, she will discuss the state of poetry. There is also Visual Vernacular by Zoë McWhinney, an art form through which the deaf tell stories without words. Serbian poet Radmila Petrović breaks taboos with brutal poetry, and Hendri Yulius Wijaya is Artist in Residence with work about his experiences as a queer poet in Indonesia.