Bad Betty's new night, bringing you the best local acts plus YOU on the open mic

“Fierce and bristling with life” – The Guardian

“The very best of contemporary poetry” – The Book Hive

Award-winning publishing house Bad Betty Press presents poetry from Priya Gill and Richard Arkwright. You on the open mic!

Hosted by Jake Wild Hall.

Supported by Arts Council England.

OPEN MIC RULES

To sign up, choose the ticket option 'Ticket & open mic sign up' (20 spaces, when they're gone, they're gone). One poem max. Three minutes max. Your time starts when you start talking. No punching down (we will not tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism or classism). No nudity.

VENUE & ACCESS:

This event is part of NAE's Friday Night Socials. NAE has a lift and accessible toilets. The building is fitted with induction loops for enhanced sound. Disabled parking is available on request.Full accessibility info here. (https://www.nae.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/May-2023-Access-Statement-large-print.pdf)

New Art Exchange (NAE) is the UK’s largest gallery dedicated to contemporary visual arts from the Global Ethnic Majority. Based in Hyson Green, Nottingham, NAE champions inclusivity and equity in the creative industries, nurturing and celebrating talent from diverse backgroundsAbout Us page on our website (http://www.nae.org.uk/page/who-are-we/3).

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Armor Craw is a Scottish visual artist and poet who has called Nottingham, the "city of rebels," home for the last twenty-five years. Her work is a poignant exploration of identity, blending a deep nostalgia for her Scottish roots with raw, courageous narratives of love, grief, and resilience.A lifelong learner, Armor’s academic journey was marked by receiving the prestigious Erasmus Award as a mature student. Her multidisciplinary talent extends to photography, with her work featured by the British Film Institute (BFI), as well as social activism. As the founder of Bras Not Bombs, she has turned creative energy into global humanitarian support, providing essential items to displaced women and girls.Recently, Armor released her debut poetry pamphlet, In Exile, with the GOBS Collective, a cornerstone of Nottingham's vibrant performance scene. She is currently working on her first full-length book, drawing inspiration from and contributing to the creative community of Nottingham.

Keith Ford is probably responsible for at least: 6% of the musical talent in Mr Ford and Mr Gibbs; 11% of the beauty and brains in Mr Ford and Mrs Ford; 3% of the inherent hiphoprisy in Geordie Genes; 49% of the cheerfulness in DJ Cheap and Cheerful; 17.3% of Speech Therapy's hosting history; 0.2% of his own browsing history. However, he is entirely 100% responsible for any of the nonsense in his poetry. You do the math...

ABOUT BAD BETTY:

Bad Betty Press is an award-winning independent poetry publisher, and curator of live literature events taking place across the UK. London-born, Nottingham-based, Bad Betty was set up in 2017 with the aim of showcasing risk-taking poetry, supporting poets’ artistic development and celebrating stories less often told.

Bad Betty was Highly Commended in this year's British Book Awards' Small Press of the Year category, has been a Midlands Finalist the last 3 years, won the Michael Marks Publishers' Award in 2022, and is the parent of pamphlet imprint, Little Betty.

“The epitome of bold independence” – The Big Issue

“Serious quality” – LeftLion

Description supplied by the event organiser.