My wife and I established this monthly spoken word event to provide an opportunity for writers, poets and slammers to share their work – or others’ – and have enjoyed wonderful support from the community.

In 2016-17 Words Out Loud ran at Babushka bar and lounge. With that wonderful bar having closed in November 2017, the event moved to the Printers Room, in the basement of Sebastiaans cafe in Lydiard St, in 2018. Sebastiaans closed in early 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic ran its wrecking ball through the entertainment and hospitality industries. After stumbling through 2020-21 and early 2022 with a few pop-up events, WOL has gone on hiatus, with one eye open for special event opportunities.

WOL highlights included running events in conjunction with Central Highlands festivals and organisations, and collaborating on ekphrastic exhibitions with the Soldiers Hill Artist Collective.

For details on pending Words Out Loud events, see the website wordsoutloudballarat or the Facebook page www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/