Word Travels is a not-for-profit arts organisation. We create literary and literacy programs for festivals, private companies, libraries, schools and cultural institutions around the Asia Pacific with a focus on developing performing writers. You can find us in theatres, schools, board rooms, health institutions, night clubs, prisons, regional towns, abandoned restaurants and libraries.
We believe that spoken word artists, poets, hip-hop artists, storytellers and monologists can develop an industry equal to that of actors, musicians and writers. Our main objective is to inspire people to tell their stories in creative ways, primarily through live performance. Check out our beliefs and priorities.
The major programs we run each year are:
STORY WEEK
Our spoken word festival packed full of live literary mayhem in the form of spoken word, poetry, stories, lyrics and monologues. Featuring panels, workshops and the Australian Poetry Slam National Final.
AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM
Our live literary performance competition where the audience is the judge. With a nationwide round of 60 heats, the best slammers compete to win the Australian Poetry Slam National Final, which is held annually at the Sydney Opera House.
AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM YOUTH
The largest youth poetry slam in Sydney. Held annually, this event encourages 12-18 year olds to share their stories and raise their voices.
MULTILINGUAL POETRY SLAM
A poetry event that celebrates diversity of language as artists are invited to express themselves and their culture in their own words.
ORIGINS
Word Travels was started by Miles Merrill in 2007. After 11 years of performing his own stories, poems and monologues, Merrill decided to offer opportunities to artists with similar passions and abilities. Merrill formed Word Travels while working with the State Library of NSW and spoken word projects were born out of this collaboration.
From 2005 to 2009, Word Travels and the library set up Australia’s first national poetry slam. In 2008, Word Travels also produced Night Words, Australia’s first spoken word festival at the Sydney Opera House.
In June 2010, Word Travels was incorporated as a not-for-profit arts association.
FOUNDER STORY
Word Travels founder, Miles Merrill is African-American. He started his career as an actor being offered roles like Janitor 1 or the The Indian Guy. Merrill realised that his own thoughts or emotions would never be revealed waiting around for someone to cast him in the perfect script. He switched his university major to focus on writing. Merrill discovered even more conservative mono-culturalism in the writing industry, with editors and publishers offering feedback like: “It’s excellent writing but not relevant to our audience."
To counter these blocks, Merrill chose to combine his writing with his performance. Through performing writing he reached audiences immediately. He got his own ideas and emotions recognised, applauded and supported.
Merrill realised others were having similar experiences: never feeling heard, always waiting for permission to speak to an audience. This is why he set up and continues to run Word Travels.
OUR TEAM
Learn more about the amazing people who help make it all happen.
