Book Launch: Election Day of the Dead by Doc Drumheller and A Poem Goes About on Foot by Joaquin Pasos

 

Election Day of the Dead by Doc Drumheller.

Published by Cold Hub Press.

Catalyst is proud to present a special launch event in association with Cold Hub Press. 

Wednesday 2nd December marks the final Catalyst open mic for 2020 and a double book launch.

Cold Hub Press presents Doc Drumheller's Election Day of the Dead, a bilingual English/Spanish collection of seventy haiku, with translations by Dylan Brennan and illustrations by Liliana Pérez-Brennan.

Written while travelling in the USA, Nicaragua, Mexico and El Salvador, Doc's travels coincided with several international poetry festivals, Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico and the 2016 US Presidential Elections.

 

In a double celebration, Cold Hub Press also presents  A POEM GOES ABOUT ON FOOT - twenty-one poems by Joaquín Pasos with translations by Roger Hickin.

 

Join the Catalyst crowd to hear readings from both books as well as our regular open mic and end of year Christmas theme.

Wednesday 2nd December, 7pm

Space Academy, 371 St Asaph St, Christchurch.

NZ Poetry Slam national final - tickets available online!

 Tickets selling fast! Secure yours here:

Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/.../new.../christchurch/tickets

NZ Poetry Slam comes to Christchurch again!

 

Catalyst volume 17 - Socially Distant - is officially launched!

 

Christchurch Poetry Slam 2020

 

Christchurch Poetry Slam 2020 - Prelim Heat + Grand Final - RULES

 

 NOTE: In 2020, Christchurch is hosting a PRELIMINARY HEAT as well as a Grand Final. Only those selected via the Preliminary Heat (Wednesday 7th October, 7pm at Space Academy) will be able to contest the Grand Final as part of WORD Christchurch.

 

Here are the official rules of the Christchurch Poetry Slam as per the NZ Poetry Slam.

Sign-up is on the night only - places are limited to 12 participants so get there early.

Rules for NZ Poetry Slam

• 3 minutes or less with no minimum time (10 second grace period before points deduction)

• Time starts when poet speaks, however while poets can have time to settle and adjust microphone etc, this time is not limitless; ideally a poet should start before 10 seconds.

• Original (i.e. your own) poems only

• No props no music no costumes (i.e. clothing related to the content of your poem)

• In the case of a tie a slam-off will be required

• Random draw, for performance order.

 
Judging and scoring:

• 5 Audience Judges (chosen by MC and/or organiser) display score cards 0-10 (Decimal points allowed)

• Top and bottom scores drop off and total of remaining 3 scores is the total

• If Poet goes over grace period MC or Timekeeper to ask scorer to mark down points after the judges score… (Half a point penalty for every 10 seconds over time)

• After 4 minutes the MC can shut down the poet

• 'Sacrificial Poet' (non-competing) to start the night, to help calibrate scores.

• Slams are equally about writing, performance and audience response.

• Slammers should have at least 3 poems, as there will be three rounds for the Regionals and NZ Slam
  …

As always, remember: the point is the poetry not the points!

 

 

Save Our Catalyst! A new date - 10th September

A fundraising performance of poetry and music to help keep our pages turning!

Christchurch poets are stepping up to help us fill the shortfall caused by the Covid-19 lockdown: we were unable to host our regular monthly open mics for four months and we rely on those to keep publishing Catalyst. So we're pulling out all the stops in a go-for-broke heave-to featuring some of Catalyst's regulars and Christchurch favourites and new friends.

We're celebrating National Poetry Day a day early, that's how keen we are. The show will feature a little bit of music, a whole lot of poetry, prizes and surprises so if you're in Christchurch on Thursday 10th September, swing on by the ever-lovin' Space Academy for a poetic digestif. $15 on the door or $10 pre-sale.

We are so so so grateful to all these beautiful, inspiring writers for donating their time, talent and even precious books to help us raise the $$. And a very special thank you to Melanie McKerchar for having this idea and bringing it to life. Mwah! Show them your love!

We Love Space Academy!

Please help us keep our beloved home alive and kicking.

Space Academy is a sanctuary for art, music and literature lovers (or just peeps who love craft beer, craft pizza and wholesome food).

It's also been the home of the spacey-themed latest iteration of Catalyst Open Mic, the ever-evolving poetry performance community now in its 19th year. You can even sit on the sofas and read a collection of our increasingly rare and collectible back issues from their library.

Run by the nicest team on Earth or in orbit, it is a haven for anyone looking for a gentler, thoughtful or inspiring experience in their night out.

You might even hear some poetry.*

Space Academy are running a Boosted campaign to help them get through the difficult winter caused by months of pandemic lock-down. Please support the lively, passionate arts and literary infrastructure in our city by donating to the campaign at the link below - every little bit helps and they are so close to target!

We Love Space Academy!

The view from the (open) microphone

Poet and sometime Catalyst host Melanie McKerchar

*this may or may not be an incentive.

3rd Annual Stand Up Poetry SLAM - Live Stream Edition goes nationwide!

MEDIA RELEASE from Action Education:

Action Education is proud to present the 3rd Annual Stand Up Poetry Slam - Live Stream Addition!

As a way to meet the needs of our community and to ensure the safety of all involved, Action Education has decided to move our 2020 SUP Slam online and to the world.

SUP Slam is open to any poet within Aotearoa between the ages of 13-18. More than a competition, SUP Slam is a celebration of youth voice and a chance to hear from some of New Zealand’s most powerful young visionaries, leaders, and artists.

The slam will be live streamed at 6PM on Wednesday the 20th of May from the Action Education Facebook page.

The winner of the slam will receive a $200 Cash Prize and will be crowned the 2020 SUP Slam Champion!

RULES:

Poets must be between the ages of 13-18.
Poem must be original.
Slam will be one round.
Poets will be scored by a panel of Guest Judges (TBA).
Poems must be between 2-3 minutes in length.
We will believe in free expression so the slam will be uncensored. Stand Up Poetry is an inclusive community, so hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated.

TO ENTER:

Send a video of you performing your poem along with your full name, age, and an email to the Action Education Facebook Page by MONDAY MAY 18TH @6PM. If you have any questions with regards to this process please feel free to message us or send an email to info@actioneducation.co.nz.

The List of Competitors will be announced on Tuesday May 19th.
Poets can only enter one poem.

THERE IS LIMITED SPACE so please make sure to enter your poem before the due date.

For more info or for a more detailed description of the rules please send an email to - info@actioneducation.co.nz

CREATIVITY IS NECESSARY.

2020: The Year We Made Compost

NZ Poetry Slam national final once again in Ōtautahi/Christchurch

Featuring the 2019 regional champs from around Aotearoa New Zealand including Ōtautahi's own multiple champ, Ray Shipley and 2019 runner-up Melanie McKerchar.

Saturday 23rd November, doors open 7pm
Papa Hou, YMCA
12 Hereford St, Christchurch Central
Tickets: $20 / $15

Catalyst volume 16 - Wireless Compassion

Catalyst volume 16 - cover featuring artwork by Bayartsengel Bum-Erdene

Today we're proud to be launching Catalyst Volume 16 Wireless Compassion.

The culmination of another year of reading, traveling and selecting poetry from around the world and Aotearoa New Zealand. The sub-title Wireless Compassion reflects a number of synergies for both Catalyst's home city of Ōtautahi Christchurch and Editor-in-Chief Doc Drumheller.

2019 saw a horrific act of terrorism visited on Christchurch that, far from achieving division, actually united and mobilised the compassion of the people of Christchurch. Following events of that day, the regular poetry open mics hosted by Catalyst provided a thoughtful, safe and welcoming space for many of the poets and writers of Christchurch to spread love and compassion through their words.

Later in the year Doc travelled to India for the 39th World Congress of Poets for which the theme 'Compassion through poetry' particularly resonated.

With suites of featured poetry from India, Mongolia and the Word Congress of Poets as well as individual poets from Aotearoa New Zealand and the world, Volume 16 Wireless Compassion represents hope, kindness, compassion and peace while still asking questions, seeking after answers and celebrating the written (and printed) word.

Thank you to all our supporters, subscribers, submitters and readers who have journeyed with us for part or all of sixteen years. We quite like being teenagers.

Read on.

Christchurch Poetry Slam 2019 - the results!

Pleased as punch to announce the results of the Christchurch Poetry Slam 2019!
 
1st - Ray Shipley
2nd - Melanie McKerchar
3rd - Barrett Robb
 
What a night - with our first ever slam-off for runner-up! Congrats to long-standing Catalyst regular, Mel McKerchar who drew first up in the first round for the THIRD year in a row, edging out fellow Catalyst regular Barrett to the runner-up slot in a nail-biting finish to the night. And of course, ka mau te wehi to multiple ChCh Slam Champ, Ray Shipley for making it back to back Slams. Look out nationals!

Christchurch Poetry Slam 2019 - The Rules

Here are the official rules of the Christchurch Poetry Slam as per the NZ Poetry Slam.

Sign-up is on the night only - places are limited to 12 participants so get there early.

Rules for NZ Poetry Slam

• 3 minutes or less with no minimum time (10 second grace period before points deduction)

• Time starts when poet speaks, however while poets can have time to settle and adjust microphone etc, this time is not limitless; ideally a poet should start before 10 seconds.

• Original (i.e. your own) poems only

• No props no music no costumes (i.e. clothing related to the content of your poem)

• In the case of a tie a slam-off will be required

• Random draw, for performance order.

 
Judging and scoring:

• 5 Audience Judges (chosen by MC and/or organiser) display score cards 0-10 (Decimal points allowed)

• Top and bottom scores drop off and total of remaining 3 scores is the total

• If Poet goes over grace period MC or Timekeeper to ask scorer to mark down points after the judges score… (Half a point penalty for every 10 seconds over time)

• After 4 minutes the MC can shut down the poet

• 'Sacrificial Poet' (non-competing) to start the night, to help calibrate scores.

• Slams are equally about writing, performance and audience response.

• Slammers should have at least 3 poems, as there will be three rounds for the Regionals and NZ Slam
  …

As always, remember: the point is the poetry not the points!

Catalyst volume 16 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS deadline 1st April!

We're pleased to announce that Catalyst is accepting submissions for our next volume, number 16.

The deadline is 1st April and we encourage all submitters to read our submission guidelines. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines will not be considered.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank all our subscribers and submitters for supporting the journal over its first fifteen years in print. Here's to fifteen more (and if you haven't yet subscribed maybe head on over to our subscriptions page to find out more - might make a great gift too! 😉)

NZ Poetry Slam 2018 National Final - in Christchurch!

It's been years in the coming (is that even a thing?) but finally the NZ Poetry Slam is about to have it's grand final in the South Island. Last year's champion Daisy Speaks (Daisy Lavea-Timo) broke the stranglehold of the north on the title of NZ Slam Champion and now she's helping to bring the event itself to Ōtautahi/Christchurch.

Just another milestone in the remarkable renaissance of spoken word in Christchurch and nationally over the last 15 years.

Today's the day, if you're in Christchurch get along to see the best of this year's regional slam champs battle it out on the mic for the national title. Local two-time champion Ray Shipley will lead a three person challenge from Ōtautahi including Barrett Rob and Troy Buckland.

The venue is the pretty much brand new Haeata Community Campus auditorium in Aranui.