Front to Black Open Mic Poetry Night

This October, Calico Projects is proud to present our Sonic Cultures programme for Black History Month 2026. Sonic Cultures seeks to highlight the value of music, spoken poetry, and other sonic forms as ways to remember history, celebrate culture, and express individual identity.

From 7:00-8:30pm on Tuesday 27th October, NAZ Project London will host a special edition of their regular Front to Black group: an open-mic poetry night, headlined by award-winning poet Jenny Mitchell. Jenny will kick off the evening with a performance of her own poetry, and then the floor will open for anyone else to read their work! You’re welcome to read original poetry or perform existing poets’. Open mic signups on the night.

This event is free and 18+. Book your free ticket via Ticket Tailor.

Prior to the open mic poetry night, Jenny Mitchell will also host a poetry writing workshop. For more information, please see the booking link above.

About Jenny Mitchell: Jenny Mitchell is a multiple-award winning poet of three poetry collections: Her Lost Language, Map of a Plantation, and Resurrection of a Black Man. Jenny has had residencies at Sussex University, the British Library, and Cork City Libraries. She is a poetry co-editor for the Morning Star and a course facilitator for the Irish Writers Centre.

About NAZ Project London & Front to Black: NAZ is a charity working to address sexual health inequalities in Black, Brown, and Global Majority and LGBTQ+ communities. Front to Black was designed to spotlight the written and spoken work of Black and Global Majority writers to demonstrate that literature has the scope to explore the diversity of Black culture, give voice to its history, and use literature as a tool for collective future envisioning for the Black Community.

This event is made possibly by a grant from Lewisham Council.