World Poetry Slam Organization

mission statement and vision: towards respect, openness and inclusivity

 

We, the team of WPSO, have agreed upon the following mission statement in relation to the organization which will be the coordinating body of the world championship poetry slam and the international exchange between slam poets around the world.

 

The organization will have as vision & mission statement the following:

 

• Advocation of poetry slam as a mean of emancipation and improvement of our society so that there is global equity;

• Freedom of speech must be guaranteed as long as it does not imply any kind of impairment, detriment or harm to others;

• Advocating of slam as an open stage conformed by all the oppressed and invisibilized silenced voices: women, LGBTIQ+,  precarized and racialized people, and diverse corporalities or other populations not mentioned and that are also exposed to some type of discrimination by a common oppressor, namely the white hetero-patriarchal cis supremacy and its system of oppression;

• Supporting the efforts of local, regional and international poetry slam communities to travel and stay under optimum conditions, when visiting other scenes to perform;

• Supporting the efforts in the professionalizing of the worldwide poetry slam scene both what is concerned the organizational and logistical aspects of slam scenes and slam competitions (Exchange of best practices and white papers; Establishing a database of shared information, research, critique and translations; Establishing a multimedia platform which contains information and examples of what is happening in the slam scene) as well as the support of emerging and established artistic talent;

• Providing support for (academic) seminars, round tables, discussion platforms,... about topics related to poetry slam and supporting research into formats which make slam poetry more widely known and available;

• Promoting slam poetry in all its forms and formats globally;

• Organizing the World Poetry Slam Festival (including the World Championships) and where needed and requested, assist in the organization of continental slampionships;

• Respect for the person, on stage and off stage, and for the poetry and the point of view performed;

• Advocation of respect towards all people regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, origin, caste or class, income or property, language, religion, convictions, opinions, health or disability; 

• Advocation of respect for all living entities on this planet.

We would like to announce that we are working together  to set up an inclusive network, that can organize and stage a true World Slam Championship, open to all slammers from all over the world, following the above mentioned vision & mission statement and inviting all stakeholders (organizers, participants, gate keepers, volunteers, sponsors etc) to join us and share in the responsibility as well as pride in this, our family of slammers and the staging of the World Poetry Slam Festival! The first of which we shall hold in 2022 in Brussels and will be itinerant.