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'Poetry changes lives. In Australia, we have been slow to acknowledge or champion this fact: we have no poet laureate, and rarely is poetry publicly celebrated, even by those who otherwise champion the arts. A national poetry month is long overdue.'

~ Sarah Holland-Batt

'A poem builds itself a platform to climb up on and after its climbed up over the scaffolding straightens itself up and clears its throat gets down to work, to subvert and disrupt the habituation, institutionalization, and militarisation of language and thought itself - o how necessary' 

~ PiO

We will make them together of grasses and winds
We find along the river of time, made of smooth stone

~ Joy Harjo and Ali Cobby Eckermann from 'Story Tree'

Poetry Month (1–31 August) is a new initiative presented by Red Room Poetry to increase the profile of Australian poetry, poets and publishers.

Our goal is to increase access, awareness, value and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences. The inaugural Poetry Month will be held during August 2021 with the aim of an ongoing annual celebration.

From Red Room Poetry initiatives and collaborations, to a range of community events and workshops across the country, there's something for everyone this August. The full program will be released June 21.

Want to see your event featured on the lineup? We warmly invite all Australian arts organisations and community groups to submit their August 2021 events for possible inclusion in the Calendar.


Discover Poetry Month 2021

  • Fair Trade-Image-Red Room Poetry-Hoy Harjo and Ali Cobby Eckermann-Poets

    Fair Trade

    Fair Trade is a portal that captures poetic conversations shared between some of the world’s leading First Nations poets.
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    Poets in Residence

    Announcing a raft of poetic residencies to support poets in further developing their practice in new ways, recurring annually across Poetry Month.

Launching Poetry Month | Sunday 21 March 2021 (World Poetry Day)
Featuring the Fair Trade poetic collaboration with Ali Cobby Eckermann and US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo alongside readings by poets Evelyn Araluen, Eileen Chong, Jaya Savige, Phil Wilcox and Caitlin Maling; and performances by musician Ben Salter, comedian Vidya Rajan and spoken-word artist Luka Lesson.

Poetry Month is constantly evolving. If you’d like to contact us in regards to possible partnerships or sponsorship – or how your organisation can be involved, please email us at poetrymonth@redroompoetry.org

Partners and Supporters

  • Australian Council of the Arts

  • Create NSW

  • Cultural Fund

  • City of Sydney