No special effects, instruments or gimmicks. Just the spoken word.

B次元官网网址淭here is an appetite for quality spoken word and I wanted to keep that going,B次元官网网址� said Victoria Spoken Word Festival artistic director Missie Peters. B次元官网网址淚t is incredibly important to me both to grow and establish the scene here in Victoria.B次元官网网址�

Combining elements of poetry, storytelling, stand-up comedy and theatre, the art form has seen steady growth B次元官网网址� but a dearth of post-secondary poetry opportunities for the artists prompted Peters to take matters into her own hands creating a hybrid festival of sorts.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 go to university for (it). We should have opportunities all across the country to develop the art form itself for artists and give them this opportunity to grow,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o I am doing it.B次元官网网址�

The festival kicks off with three days of artist-only workshops in improv, beat box, singing, and clowning, because Peters believes the non-traditional elements offer young poets an expanded tool box from which to explore. Artists move on to write an ensemble script with their new skills within 24 hours and perform it in front of a live audience.

B次元官网网址淭he festival is about trying to expand spoken word,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t will hopefully be something you, me and no one has ever seen before.B次元官网网址�

Starting in 2011 with a presentation to the Awesome Sh*t Club, where entrepreneurs like Peters pitched ideas to judges in a DragonsB次元官网网址� Den-style format for cash, her festival idea won the $600 grand prize and the first annual event was born. Without that opportunity this year, she turned to crowdfunding to source the $1,000 start-up cost.

B次元官网网址淚t is a really great way to connect with people who care about your project. I thought it would take six weeks to reach our goal but we did it in two,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚t creates a community event that is, by necessity, supported by the community. If the people in Victoria didnB次元官网网址檛 want it, we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have $1,000 in our campaign.B次元官网网址�

Crowdfunding, a relatively new tool where campaigners set up an account with websites such as IndieGoGo.com or Kickstarter.com and rely on the donations through the site to their projects, helped the festival raise more than $1,100  with two weeks to go.

In addition to the financial benefit, supporters from across the country left positive comments for Peters, a source of motivation for the poet who moonlights as a government worker by day.

B次元官网网址淚t is almost more important than the money,B次元官网网址� she said of the community input. B次元官网网址淚t lets you know as an organizer all (your) work is important to someone.B次元官网网址�

One of 12 poets from across Canada invited to take part, Victoria resident Justin McGrail believes PetersB次元官网网址� efforts are making a difference in the popularity of the art form across the country.

B次元官网网址淪upport (for) the festival is coming in from across the country. This (festival) is a highlight, a growing network of spoken word poetry,B次元官网网址� the 20-year poet said. B次元官网网址淚n a way, the support Missie (Peters) has reflects the growth of spoken word in the country. I can say I have seen it in my lifetime.B次元官网网址�

With Feb. 23-25, culminating with the grand finale at the Intrepid Theatre streaming live on the Internet, even Peters doesnB次元官网网址檛 know what to expect because it hasnB次元官网网址檛 yet been written. She is confident performances will be well worth the price of admission.

B次元官网网址淚 create the venue and (the artists) are going to fill it with art,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址�(Spoken wordB次元官网网址檚) power is in the performance and on the stage B次元官网网址� as opposed to the page.B次元官网网址�

Spoken like a true poet, who does know it.

Victoria Spoken Word Festival performances run Feb. 23-25 at the Intrepid Theatre and Solstice Caf茅 with a public spoken word workshop Feb. 26.