Special Event

ACT Poetry Month Showcase

Presented in partnership with Red Room Poetry

Portrait of poet from low angle

Sophie Edwards. Photograph: Meg Houghton. Image courtesy of Red Room Poetry.

At the Gallery
Sat 3 Aug 2024, 2pm
James Fairfax Theatre
Wheelchair Accessible Hearing Loop
No performances scheduled

Free, bookings essential
Duration: 75 minutes

Join some of the Australian Capital Territory’s finest poets and spoken word artists including Kirk Cádiz, Jen Webb, Elfie Shiosaki, Asha Naznin, and Merlinda Bobis to celebrate Poetry Month 2024.

Hosted by Alice Grundy, the showcase will include a special reading by leading Australian artist Ben Quilty and a performance by singer songwriter Sophie Edwards.

In partnership with Red Room Poetry, the National Gallery has commissioned author Nam Le and playwright Dylan Van Den Berg to write ekphrastic poems in response to a work in the National Gallery collection. Nam has selected Sidney Nolan’s painting, Quilting the armour (1947) and Dylan chose Benjamin Duterrau’s painting, Mr Robinson's first interview with Timmy (1840). Nam and Dylan will debut these new works at the poetry showcase.

The ACT Poetry Month Showcase is presented in partnership with Red Room Poetry as part of Poetry Month 2024.

This program is wheelchair accessible, and the Audio Induction Loop System is available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, with compatible hearing aids. Please email learning@nga.gov.au for more information.