Sauga Poetry Open Mic is a monthly poetry/spoken word event that started in May 2023. Taking place at Studio.89 on a Sunday night, each event includes a featured artist and offers an opportunity for attendees to perform their poem. Attendees can come to the event as audience members and/or performers.
The list of open mic performers is based on a random draw of those who sign up; those interested in performing can sign up when they arrive any time before 7 PM. There are 16 open mic slots; and each poet can perform 1 poem, 4 minutes maximum. All experience levels are welcome.
Spoken word is an art form that helps facilitate healing, community ties, and social justice. Our event will be a safe place to discuss difficult topics, as well as for marginalized identities.
– Sauga Poetry
About Caterina Sauro
Caterina Sauro is a multi-faceted Mississauga-based artist and author who has been featured at open mics across the GTA, as well as in the U.S. Her love of storytelling began as a child, when she would illustrate characters and create stories for them with crayons. Today, she combines her love of poetry and visual art, and has launched her first exhibition in 2015. During the pandemic, she hosted free virtual writing and painting parties. She is also the founder of Exprose, a local poet showcase and writing workshop series that supports her mission of creating spaces for human connection through the arts, locally and worldwide. She self-published her first book Hi, My Name is Monella in 2022.
About Sauga Poetry
Sauga Poetry is a collective of Mississauga-based poets dedicated to creating a spoken word hub in Mississauga by hosting open mic, slam and workshop events. Valuing community building, organizational longevity, collaboration, respect, accessibility and transparency, they strive to create a welcoming space that offers everyone an opportunity to participate.
We want to provide an ongoing space for poets to gather in community, build connections, and develop their creative practice.
– Sauga Poetry
About Studio.89
Studio.89 is a fair trade, non-profit community hub in Mississauga that provides free space for events, workshops and resources. Starting off in 2006 as Youth Troopers for Global Awareness (YTGA), a grassroots youth-led non-profit, the organization evolved to include theatre productions and social enterprise brainstorming, and in 2014 became Studio.89. With a strong belief in, and commitment to, the power of youth to affect change, they are dedicated to working toward a socially just and sustainable world, acting locally and thinking globally – with the arts playing “a key role in confronting and reimagining social narratives”.
We encourage community dialogue, interculturalism, artistic expression, and conscious consumerism while focusing on youth leadership development. We aim to benefit humans, animals, and the planet in all that we do.
– Studio.89
(Photo credits: Caterina Sauro & Sauga Poetry)
Event details
Hosted by: Sauga Poetry
Type of event: poetry/spoken word open mic
Featured artist: Caterina Sauro
Date: The open mic event for July is on Sunday, July 16, 2023
Start time: Doors open at 6:30 PM EDT, show starts at 7:00 PM EDT. Open mic performers sign up for the random draw upon arrival, before 7 pm. Performers will be chosen via random draw.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Sponsors: Funded by Mississauga Arts Council through the support of RAMA Gaming House – Charitable Gaming at City of Mississauga
Cost: Pay-what-you-can (C$0.00 – $20.00)
Location: Studio.89, 2520 Eglinton Avenue West, Unit 1, Mississauga, ON, L5M 0Y4, Canada
Booking link: Book your tickets here
Contact Details: Sauga Poetry, saugapoetry@gmail.com
Refund policy: Contact the organizer to request a refund. Eventbrite’s fee is non-refundable.
COVID-19 policy: Masks are provided & recommended.
Accessibility: The organizers aim to make their events as accessible as possible, through PWYC tickets and wheelchair-accessible venues.