Sonia Farmer and co-founder of Illiterati Orchid Burnside are bringing the Illiterati Story Slam event back to the stage in 2020. Every month, performers are invited to take to the stage and share a story under the proposed theme for a chance to win a spot at the Grand Slam in December and compete alongside the best performers of the year for the Grand Prize of a publishing project from Poinciana Paper Press.

The first story slam took place on January 30th under the theme “Clean Slate: Stories About Staring Over” and will be held every last Thursday of the month during this year.

One of the ways the Story Slam is growing  is through education, incorporating workshops and outreach to support content for the main stage. Welcoming Bahamian writer and educator Yasmin Glinton onto the team, Illiterati will hold monthly workshops one week ahead of each slam event to prepare performers for their moment on stage and to guide their craft.

Illiterati is also partnering with DJ Ampero, who will provide live entertainment at each story slam and a special mix each month based on its theme, and Doongalik Studios, which will provide a changing backdrop of compelling exhibitions by Bahamian visual artists. Joey Gaskins will mix a special cocktail based on the theme each month.

Illiterati will also be partnering with Transforming Spaces Bahamas, Shakespeare in Paradise, The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, and ORG Bahamas to bring forth special  storytelling challenges throughout the year.

Read more about the announcement and details here, and keep up with Illiterati news and events here.