Who is Freshwater?
Freshwater Wordsmiths was founded by Detroit poets, artists, and educators Deonte Osayande and Justin Rogers as a means of bridging the gap between national and local slam. Since it's creation, Freshwater has featured multiple national poets, prestigious local artists, and brought awareness to the diversity of Detroit poetry. Freshwater collaborates with The Baltimore Gallery, a local art gallery named after Baltimore Street showcasing local art, as a home-base venue for shows. Throughout the year, collaboration shows are held at various other venues in the city to connect Freshwater with varying audiences and poets. Feature inquiries should refer to the 'contact' page.
NPS Slams
As Detroit's PSI certified slam venue, Freshwater Wordsmiths hosts slams that qualify 10 - 12 poets for a city wide FINAL STAGE competition, where the top 4 poets come together to be named the Detroit Poetry Slam Team set to represent Detroit at NPS.
IWPS Rep
The Grand Slam Champion from our FINAL STAGE, NPS competition will also become the venue rep for Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS)
WOWPs Slam
In addition to creating the Detroit Poetry Slam Team, Freshwater Wordsmiths holds a slam of 8 to 12 Women poets for a competition where the winning poet represents Detroit at Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS.)
The Open Mic
Our open mic series showcases any and all artists who desire to grace our stage. Often, these open mics will be accompanied by a featured artist who is guaranteed to blow our crowds away.
Donations
All donations, sponsorships, or other levels of support are means of supporting Freshwater Wordsmiths and it's extensions including but not limited to the Slam Team, IWPS representatives, WOWPS representatives, Rustbelt, other poetry slams and/or Detroit events. Unless otherwise requested, those who donate are acknowledged via online listings and social media posts.