A Signature project of the Cultural Hotspot produced in partnership with the City of Toronto
An initiative of the City of Toronto, the Cultural Hotspot’s mission is to shine a spotlight on arts, culture and community outside the downtown core. From May to October 2019, the sixth annual Cultural Hotspot highlights communities in north Etobicoke and York. Lakeshore Arts is proud to partner with the City of Toronto on a Signature project of the Cultural Hotspot:
RexFest
This two-day slam poetry competition brings together four powerhouse community partners, LSA, LOVE (Leave Out Violence, Ontario), the BAM! Youth Slam and The Uncharted Collective, to provide a platform to spotlight the mind-blowing performances of 20 youth, ages 12 to 19, from the northwest neighbourhoods of Toronto. These passionate young artists will leave you speechless as they share words of sadness, humour, rage, and wisdom well beyond their years.
On the first day, all artists will perform with the top performers moving on to compete in day two.
SAVE THE DATES
REXFEST EVENT DETAILS
Semi-Finals
Date: Saturday, June 22nd, 2019
Time: 4 pm to 7 pm
Location: Thistletown Community Centre (925 Albion Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9V 1A6)
Finals
Date: Sunday, June 23rd, 2019
Time: 4 pm to 6 pm
Location: Thistletown Community Centre (925 Albion Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9V 1A6)
PAST EVENTS
The Cultural Hotspot Launch Party
Date: May 25
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 PM & Performance at 2 PM
Location: Artscape Weston Common (34 John St, Toronto, ON M9N 1J3)
Project Partner
Cultural Hotspot
The Cultural Hotspot shines a spotlight on arts, culture and community, inspiring new ideas about where culture thrives in Toronto. This annual City of Toronto and partner-produced initiative runs from May through October, moving to a different location outside the downtown core each year.
Participation is free or accessibly priced. Visit toronto.ca/culturalhotspot for details and to find out more about north Etobicoke’s activities, events, restaurants and more. View their program guide here!
Produced in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspot project.
Program Sponsor
Thank you to our sponsor Tim Hortons for your support in the arts.
Community Partners
LOVE (Leave Out Violence, Ontario)
LOVE is creating a youth led movement against violence by teaching credible youth how to use their voice and become champions against violence. Since LOVE began in 1993, these young leaders have reached hundreds of thousands of children, youth and adults reducing violence in schools, neighbourhoods and homes. Through specialized programs, youth develop the skills and motivation to help break the cycle of violence. LOVE is led by youth for youth. LOVE’s leaders are comprised of youth who best understand violence, as they have been personally challenged by: gangs, weapons, domestic violence, racism, drugs and bullying.
The BAM! Youth Slam is an extension of the Toronto Poetry Slam. BAM is a youth slam just for poets between 12 and 19, taking place on the second Wednesday of the month.
Since 2005, Toronto Poetry Project has been bringing a raucous night of slam poetry to the GTA. Toronto Poetry Slam is a twice-monthly spoken word competition, where anyone of any age can attend or compete/perform on our stage and the judges vote on each poem presented.
The Uncharted Collective
The Uncharted is a spoken word collective featuring the dynamic trio Patrick Walters, Joshua “Scribe” Watkis and Patrick de Belen. All three members are experienced, award-winning poets and arts educators. Separately, each poet delivers their own unique style and narrative, but when in sync, they become a poetic force unlike any other in this country. From cutting social commentary to loud and unapologetic punchlines, The Uncharted takes you on a quest of self-discovery and an entertaining journey to explore the communities they live in. The Uncharted aims to change everything you thought you knew about poetry.
