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National Poetry Month 2026 at ArtsXchange
- Theresa Davis
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 30
Nothing says National Poetry Month like writing prompts, open mics, and a good old poetry slam—and yes, we did all of that at ArtsXchange! Not because our Literary Director is a Poetry Slam Champion with three published poetry collections… no, no, that had absolutely nothing to do with it. 😉
This year, we dropped 11 poetry prompts across Instagram and Facebook. And just a reminder—every prompt is an open door. Walk through it however you like: poem, prose, short story. Let your creativity roam a little.
Our Spring Fling Poetry Slam—now in its 5th year—keeps leveling up. This time, our “sacrificial poet,” Mr. Funn, lit up the room with a brand-new piece, “Bob the Builder.” The call-and-response moment? Pure magic. When he asked, “Can we fix it?” the crowd didn’t hesitate—“YES, WE CAN!” The kind of joy that sticks with you.
Twelve poets took the stage: Selah Fields (first-timer), Alexandra Peters, Thee Charles Hines, Marcia Michelle (first-timer), Nathan Wallace, Kamal Speaks, Faith Jenea, Shanese Shields (1st Timer), Kimberly Grant (first-timer and just 14!), Jill Spisak, M.C. Prang, and Sean P. Speaks. Shoutout to Karen G., our timekeeper/scorekeeper, who kept us all honest.
After three rounds and 22 incredible poems, here’s how it landed:
3rd place: Faith Jenea (87.4)
2nd place: Sean P. Speaks (88.6)
1st place: Nathan Wallace (89.1) — and $1,000 richer
Nathan… about that $20 loan. Let’s talk. 😄
Huge love to our first-timers—stepping on that stage takes real courage. We see you.
Next year, we’re shaking things up: a 1-minute round, a 2-minute round, a 3-minute round, and an improv round. Get ready.
And if you missed us this month, don’t worry—the Literary Program is active every month. Open mics, slams, creative writing workshops, even Scrabble if you’re feeling strategic.
All the literary fun lives right here at ArtsXchange. Come play.
