XYZ Prize for Excellence in Spoken Word
I wanna hear a little revolution
—Emily XYZ
The Arts Queensland XYZ Prize for Excellence in Spoken Word is Australia’s only national arts award that recognises the growing field of spoken word.
The prize is named after 2010 Arts Queensland Poet in Residence, Emily XYZ, who left a deep impression on many spoken-word artists in Queensland. It is open to applicants Australia-wide.
The 2023 XYZ Prize is closed.
In an exciting development, this year, we are reconceiving the prize to focus on Performance Poetry. We are looking for the storytellers, the collaborators, the spoken word artists who are raising the bar on the stage and bringing live audiences with them.
We will offer 4 finalists the opportunity to participate in our Literary Lock In artists residency program culminating in a live performance competition as part of the 2023 Queensland Poetry festival - Story/Verse.
Shortlisted entries/Finalists
4 poets will be chosen to participate in Queensland Poetry’s Literary Lock In Artist Residency Program.
First Prize
$1000
Highest Queensland Entry
A paid performance opportunity with Queensland Poetry
Entries close midnight February 26, 2023
What is Literary Lock In?
We are putting 4 poets in a house together in Brisbane to hone their work, create work with each other, and collaborate with other artists.
The finalists will be provided transport and accommodation to spend the week leading to Queensland Poetry festival (week beginning 17th April) in a creative development intensive to develop the following:
1. A solo performance poetry performance
2. A collaborative performance poem with another finalist
3. A performance piece alongside another performance artist from a different practice
4. Finalists will have access to creative development space, professional industry mentoring and feedback, as well as a one off payment of $500 to cover expenses while in the residency.
The final presentation for the Literary Lock In Artist Residency Program will be a live showcase event as part of the Queensland Poetry festival, from which the winner for this years XYZ will be chosen by judges from within the field.
Note: Queensland Poetry will discuss the individual access requirements and needs of the XYZ finalists, to make sure they have access support to facilitate their involvement in the residency either in person or remotely.
2023 Awardee
Scott-Patrick Mitchell
Scott-Patrick Mitchell is a West Australian performance poet and writer. In 2015, they starred in the one-person show, THE 24 HOUR PERFORMANCE POEM. In 2022, Mitchell published their first book, Clean, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards.
Shortlist
Sarah Temporal
Sarah Temporal is a poet and educator living on Bundjalung lands in the NSW Northern Rivers. Her work explores embodiment, birth, matrescence, and the stories that bind us. Sarah is a winner of the Bunker Spoken Word Slam, Nimbin Performance Poetry World Cup, and a three-times finalist in the Arts Queensland XYZ Prize. Her poems are published in Best of Australian Poems, Cordite, Meniscus, Heroines Anthology and more. She is the director of Poets Out Loud, and collaborates with circus artist Britt Portelli on the performance project, ‘The Birth Suite’.
Huda the Goddess
Huda Fadlelmawla (aka Huda The Goddess) is a spoken word poet, educator, and community activist. Huda is the Australian Poetry slam champion 2021. Alongside being the 2021 QLD poetry slam champion and the 2020 QLD poetry slam champion, she has been a poet for over 6 years and is a nationally recognised poet.
Boy Renaissance
Boy Renaissance is an Australia-based spoken word poet and performance artist known for their exciting combination of spoken word, beatbox, and physical theatre. They have won numerous slams, are published in several collections, and have toured nationally at countless events including Midsumma Festival, Melbourne Writers Festival, and Horizon Festival.
Previous winners
2022
Dan Hogan
2021
Megan J. Riedl
2020
Eloise Grills and Jasmine Roberson
2019
Fable Goldsmith
2018
Anisa Nandaula
2017
Quinn Eades
2016
Benjamin Wild
2015
Manna Marvel
