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DigiPoems
DigiPoems is a cross-sector arts collaboration between British and Southern African creatives . The programme is commissioned by the British Council and delivered in partnership with ComExposed and Page Poetry Alive , which provides digital artists and poets from the UK and Southern Africa an opportunity to co-create new art through experimental digital illustrations , animation , and poetry . This year ’ s edition returned bigger and better , and fully digital ! Here is the rundown on how DigiPoems went .
By Morset Billie
DigiPoems 2021 came as a full digital experience with all activities experienced online . This also meant connecting a wider audience base across the world and giving a more exciting experience as compared to the previous editions . Besides happening online , having events stretch out throughout almost the whole year also amplified the experience in that it allowed for a diversity of audiences to get a feel of what a DigiPoems experience is all about . It also allowed for a wide array of events to be on the program .
By so doing , it catered to those who are into mixed media showcase events , as always , to those into masterclass sessions , those into roundtable talks and networking , as well as poetry lovers who are into festival kinds of events . Participants came from Southern Africa and the UK shared on different platforms throughout the year also amplified the richness of this year ’ s experience . Another notable addition was a showcase of Mauritian poetry during the launch event , which has never happened with previous editions . In addition to the usual partners , British Council , Page Poetry Alive and ComExposed , this year ’ s edition was blessed with new partners , BBC Contains Strong Language Festival , Writing West Midlands , Nine Arches Press , Voluntary Arts and Coventry City of Culture . Evidently , this added a great flavour to the taste of the whole experience .
Considering that the planning and execution of all of this was done in a volatile and chaotic Covid environment , it is worth mentioning that DigiPoems 2021 turned out amazingly good and gave everyone involved a memorable experience .
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