Local Produce: Ōtepoti Slam Collective
By Local Produce by Critic Te Ārohi | Posted:
The Ōtepoti Slam Collective (ŌSC), formerly the Dunedin Slam Collective, was founded by poet and playwright Kerry Lane. Alongside hosting open mic poetry nights until 2019, ŌSC also hosted competitive regional slams that were integrated with the NZ Young Writers Festival from 2017 onwards, with the winning poet being sent on to the national slam. At its height, open mic night had a lineup of fifty poets sharing their work.
The pandemic resulted in the loss of their space and revenue, which was the loft above the old University Book Shop. This put the club on pause for a period of time, however ŌSC is now returning with a strong season of winter events with Te Whare o Rukutia as the new venue. Alternating fortnightly, there will be a poetry workshop followed by open mics, running from this month right until the end of July. The final event will be a competitive poetry slam in August. ŌSC is running as one of the Community Curator initiatives supported by Creative NZ and Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust, with the first of these being a sound poetry workshop led by Claire Lacey.
Isla Thomas, a member of ŌSC, says that that club is an encouraging space for emerging poets who range in age and experience. Isla says that the diversity among the group contributes to the strength of the club, as “it prevents us from becoming an echo chamber, and challenges us to understand new perspectives and spur surprising projects.” The group meets once a fortnight to share warm kai and self-crafted stories as a way to find “warmth and connection” in winter, as well as providing the collective with a way to learn from accomplished special guests.
At a time when the arts are being faced with a lack of support and financial hardships, Isla remarks that Ōtepoti Slam Collective serves as a reminder of the importance of community and of fostering relationships with others in safe and creative spaces. “My [research] taught me that culture can’t exist without communities of shared breath. Over the past couple of years, we have been isolated from each other physically. We are relearning to share our voices face-to-face by performing poetry, and it builds on social, literary and relational skills,” she says. “Engaging in this kind of creative work can have phenomenal effects on your mental health.” ÕSC is free and open to all ages, and Isla says the priority is “providing safety, encouragement, and guidance for people who think they might want to try writing a poem.” Isla encourages those who are interested to join, and that “you do not have to be a ‘poet’ to join us, and anything can be a poem.”
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