South Africa, July 2022: Hear My Voice opens the call for South African poets to apply to be part of their 4-day long poetry retreat in Cape Town, taking place from 31 August 2022 to 4 September 2022. Through facilitated writing and sharing sessions, hikes, meditations, performances and pivotal industry related conversations, the retreat is set to provide poets with a conducive environment for construct and clarity of thought.
After hosting successful and impactful retreats in Mpumalanga and Gauteng earlier this year, the non-profit organisation is excited to introduce it’s Cape Town leg, which will be taking place ahead of this year’s Open Book Festival taking place from the 2nd to the 4th of September 2022.
Of the poets who attend the retreat, some will be selected to form part of the line-up of Hear My Voice’s “Bodies Under Siege” production, showcasing at the Book Festival. This will be the first time the production is showcased in Cape Town and is supported by the Right To Speak initiative, which is a EUNIC funded initiative that highlights spoken word as a way to engage youth voices in Africa and Europe around issues of human rights and social justice.
“Coupled with creating platforms, the retreat aims to facilitate fellowship and conversations amongst poets to expedite growth and improve quality in the work being produced” – Phomolo Sekamotho, Director at Hear My Voice.
The retreat will offer chosen poets the opportunity to create art with like-minded individuals in an environment that prompts thought and empowers poets to produce the work that matters to them.
“The Hear My Voice Poetry Retreat was such a life changing experience. After I struggled to construct a poem for almost 6 months, I was able to write again. I loved the way everything was provided for and how we were free to be ourselves. I was reminded that we are everything around us and that everything around us is us. I was reminded the value of life and ever since that retreat I have never been the same person as I was before, I’m more connected to self and to nature.” – Kwazi Ndlangisa, participant in the Mpumalanga Retreat.
Those who are interested in applying to attend the all-expenses paid retreat can do so by visiting https://forms.gle/q5z5RhkqaoJgck8p6, by 2 August 2022.
“The work that Hear My Voice does in the poetry sector is of such importance and Open Book is excited to finally have the opportunity to partner with them. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming poets to the Open Book stage to perform in “Bodies Under Siege”. – Frankie Murrey, Festival Coordinator of Open Book.