Voices at Word Up hosts authors, poets and spoken-word artists. Hear the work of professionals and amateurs, and take the mic to share your own work.
Join In Person: To join this program at the Library, please drop-in.
Join Online: To join this program, please visit Word Up Barrie's website, where a Zoom link will be made available the day of.
February Guests:
Join our writers panel to discover the perspectives of our young, local poets on their heritage and experiences as black youth in our society, and what Black History Month means to them. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions when the floor is opened. Stick around for Open Mic, where we get to see their talents bloom, and you get to share your work.
Oliver Joseph is a songwriter & recording artist from Barrie, Ontario. His songs are made to uplift and motivate his audience through strong wordplay that listeners can relate to. Trails & tribulations are inevitable throughout the course of life however Oliver finds a way to convey his message through his craft which he shares with listeners worldwide.
Look for Oliver on Instagram @oliverjoseph_
Tyneisha Ternent, current Poet Laureate nominee and Tourism Spark Grant finalist is a local bestselling author who grew up in downtown Toronto. Known for her bestselling poetry book Bearing Fruit, Tyneisha uses her poetic abilities to perform spoken word poetry that is honest, emotional and uplifting. Tyneisha uses her words to uplift and inspire; and is currently working on a poetic arts tour that will take place throughout Simcoe County in 2023. Tyneisha is a unique artist that understands the power of words and uses them to heal herself and others through poetry.
Ty the Poetess (@tythepoetess) • Instagram photos and videos
Tru aka RoyalTee the Eccentric 1
Since the age of thirteen Tru has been using creative writing such as Spoken Word as a healthy outlet to express the growing pains of his adolescence. Experiencing the health and recreational benefit of arts, cultivated his artistic passion for creative writing. By the time he was fifteen years old, he grew a greater understanding of the radical impact various arts hold on the political and social climate.
Dub-Poetry, Spoken Word and music is a comfort blanket and a core of Tru’s existence. His relationship with Rhythm and rhymes is forging a career as a multidisciplinary emerging artist in these ever-changing times. Tru aims to document and contribute to the revolution.
Look for Tru on Instagram theeccentric1_
Learn more: to learn more about this program and guests, please visit the Word Up Barrie Website.
The health and safety of our participants and staff is our top priority, please review our Stay Safe Guidelines.
We want to improve, to serve you better. Please take a moment and fill out our Program Evaluation Form.
Our Downtown Branch is centrally located in the Downtown core at the corner of Worsley and Owen Streets. The building and facilities are fully accessible. Enjoy a beverage or a small snack from our Café located inside the lobby, use our complimentary wifi, experiment with technology and maker tools, or soak up the sun on our Rooftop Reading Garden.