Poetry Open Mic at Landmark Lanes

Calling all LGBTQIA+ Milwaukee poets! If you are looking for a safe and fun space to share your writing, please fill out the sign-up form (link below) to be added to the queue of authors reading live on June 13th, in the Moon Room at the historic Landmark Lanes.

Everyone has a story to share and we want to hear yours. We know how scary it can be to get up in front of a crowd and present something so intimate, we've got your back.

This evening is being held specifically to platform emerging, queer poets and artists. Each person entering their name for reading(s) will be allotted up to 5 minutes of stage time. We will only be accepting poetry readings for this event. Prose blocks are acceptable. If you have short stories, we unfortunately will not be able to host you for this event.

Enjoy short film screenings, featured poets sprinkled in with open mic sign-ups and two queer DJs mixing while you mingle!

Ages 21+ only to perform and attend the event. (Note: we will be live streaming the evening on multiple platforms for guest that are unable to attend).

SIGN-UP FORM>>
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfi9r_RHniG_Y7xy2mJndcBnNaw23ad5JF0E9rQBHzaBZEkBA/viewform

--- More About The Project ---

Diya Gitanjali Mark (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and writer whose work explores love, identity, culture, and connection—often through genres like horror and sci-fi. They are also interested in storytelling through the lens of identity and their lived experience as a queer person of color.

Mark's project is made possible through Woodland Pattern’s Emerging Poet fellowship. real and not reel, is a series of events that seeks to bring Milwaukee’s creative communities together, specifically through the practices of poetry and filmmaking.

The first event in the series, taking place during Pride Month, seeks to uncover unexpected links between themes like queer love, identity, and the unique experience of growing up in the Midwest. The project brings together poets and visual artists across different disciplines, exploring how varied genres, mediums, and identities can exist side by side. Through these collaborations, real and not reel aims to create a space where artists from diverse backgrounds can connect, share, and grow their creative communities. Diya sees this as especially important during times of social and political uncertainty, when uplifting underrepresented voices is more urgent than ever.

Poetry will be central to the project, acting as a thread that ties everything together. It will serve as a way for artists to explore how beauty and joy often coexist with fear and horror—sometimes even in the same moment or story.

You may also like the following
events from Landmark Lanes
:

• Next Sunday, 15th June, 12:00 pm, Drag Bingo at Landmark Lanes in Milwaukee

Also check out other
Arts events in Milwaukee
,
Literary Art events in Milwaukee
.