THE NORTHERN GRIOTS NETWORK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARBOURFRONT CENTRE AND NIA CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, ANNOUNCE THE SOUTH-NORTH GRIOTS SUMMIT

AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL SPOKEN WORD PERFORMERS

IGNITE STAGES IN TORONTO, MAY 28-31, 2015

TORONTO, ON (MAY 12, 2015) – As the countdown to the Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games begins, an array of arts and cultural events ignite the spirit of the host city of Toronto. At the Harbourfront Centre, the Northern Griots Network (NGN) in partnership with the Nia Centre for the Arts, proudly presents the SOUTH-NORTH GRIOTS SUMMIT. This international event takes place May 28th – May 31st, and brings together the world’s premiere spoken word artists from the Caribbean, South America, the United States and Canada.

With over 40 artists representing over 40 countries, the South-North Griots Summit features award-winning artists, poet laureates, slam champions and more! Audiences are invited to experience the power of contemporary spoken word in all of its forms. Paying homage to the legacy of the Griot – the traditional storyteller/historian of Africa – performers, authors, educators, and creative-change makers will converge at the Harbourfront Centre to explore the lineage and future of the spoken word art form.

The South-North Griots Summit will animate the Harbourfront Centre with a weekend of live performances, concerts, video screenings, panels, and interactive workshops. The aim is to engage artists and audiences in the discovery of the diverse voices, stories and creative spoken word movements taking place across the globe.

According to NGN organizers: “The South-North Griots Summit gathers amazing spoken word talent from across the Americas and beyond to perform, explore, connect and collaborate. As people enjoy the excitement leading up to the Games, the South-North Griots Summit will strengthen community by building networks and showcasing world-class performers in one of the world’s most diverse and culturally vibrant cities.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday May 28th show at the Lula Lounge, 8-11 PM

IN THE BEGINNING

An Ignition of Live Music & the Rhythm of the Word

Friday May 29th show at Harbourfront, 8-11 PM

THE GRIOTS LOUNGE

The Poetic Power of Roots and Culture

Saturday May 30th show at Harbourfront, 8-11 PM

SPOKEN WORLD FEATURES

The Heights of Spoken Word Heard Round the World

Workshop at Harbourfront, 2:30 PM - 4 PM

WORD LIFE: YOUTH INterACTION/Co-CREATION WORKSHOP

Interactive and collaborative Spoken Word workshop for youth artists.

And on May 30th and May 31st, during the day, at Harbourfront

Interactive panel discussions, presentations and workshops on spoken word activism, the Griot tradition in spoken word, career building, and more

Stage to Screen: Spoken Word in Film & Video special screening

Open Mic performances

For a full list of artists - http://www.northerngriotsnetwork.com/-artist.html

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, please email griotsnetwork@gmail.com or call 647-284-9135.

FOR TICKETS

South-North Griots Summit tickets go on sale April 28th, 2015 via Harbourfront Centre’s Box Office. Call 416-973-4000, visit 235 Queens Quay West and/or go online for all ticket inquiries.

FOR EVENTS SCHEDULE

For event and performance information, including photos, videos and details on the South-North Griots Summit, please visit www.harbourfront.com/southnorthgriotssummit. Connect online at http://www.northerngriotsnetwork.com, Facebook and Twitter using @NORTHERNGRIOTS and #griotssummit2015.

Please visit harbourfrontcentre.com/gettinghere for transit information and directions.