National Poetry Month: National Poetry Month 2024: Columbus State Poetry Slam

Calling all Columbus State student poets!

Are you a poet but have never written slam poetry before? Not a poet yet, but would like to be? We are here to help! Workshops will be provided during spring semester leading up to the slam.

MC Barbara Fant

Photo of Barbara Fant, a smiling Black woman with curly upswept hair, wearing a blue blouse.

Barbara Fant has competed in nine National and World Poetry slams, including five individual competitions and four national poetry slam teams. In 2008, her team was named the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam Champions! She placed 8th out of 96 poets in the 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam and is a two-time Rustbelt Indy Finalist. 

More about Barbara Fant

Published Works

The Columbus State Library and English Department, in partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library, invite students to participate in a Columbus State Poetry Slam. Students are invited to express themselves through poetry on Thursday, April 25 from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at an event at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.

Poetry Slam participants have the chance to win prizes as judges determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place submissions!

  • 1st Place: $250
  • 2nd Place: $100
  • 3rd Place: $50

Please contact English Department faculty Dr. Matthew Connolly or Library Supervisor Sharon Richter with any questions.

Slam Rules

  1. Must be a Columbus State student.
  2. Sixteen total individual poets or poet groups will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  3. Poets will need two poems to compete.
  4. Poems must be the original work of the performing poet(s).
  5. Samples of up to thirty seconds are permitted.
  6. No props, costumes, instruments, or music.
  7. There is a three minute time limit with a ten second grace period.
  8. Poets may read from a copy of their poems.
  9. Poems must adhere to the College and Library codes of conduct.

How will judging take place?

This is an educational event. While prizes will be awarded, judges will not show scores to the audience, as is done in a traditional slam.

Judges will be pre-selected and have no affiliation with individual poets. Judges will be local poets as well as library and college staff and faculty.

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