The Iron Poets is a positive poetry challenge to encourage all artists to sharpen their spoken word skills. The Iron Poet Series features live spoken word, workshops, drum ciphers, and musical performances of local Hartford artists. Each Iron Poet represents a different style of poetry and uses their craft to challenge those around them. Poets get the opportunity to connect with the local Arts community, are mentored by veteran artists, and receive invaluable feedback during our workshops. We encourage poets to “sharpen” their skills and prepare them to compete in the Iron Poet Competition. Our goal is to provide the resources for artists to enhance their skills, encourage local interest in the arts, and establish Hartford as Connecticut’s #1 location for spoken word poetry. The Iron Poet Series is at the epicenter of connectivity because it creates an artist network in Greater Hartford. The Iron Poet Competition begins after the January retreat, and it ends in April at the 10th Annual International Trinity Hip Hop Festival. All are welcome to participate! Iron Poet contestants are on personal challenges to excel and learn through friendly competition. Poets choose a category in which to compete and earn the title of “Iron Poet” for their poetic style. Preliminary competitions are held in the Spring and will determine who will be in the running to compete in the Iron Poet Finals. The Iron Poet Final Competition will be held at the 10th Annual International Trinity Hip Hop Festival! The Trinity International Hip Hop Festival was “created to combat the disunity, segregation, and violence of Hartford, CT and Trinity College. Using the historically education-oriented and politically revolutionary medium — Hip Hop – and focusing on its global potency and proliferation, the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival works to unify Trinity College, the city of Hartford, and the Globe.”
