Mark Kelly Smith Poetry Slam Collection
Forty years ago in Chicago, poetry stepped off the quiet page, walked into a crowded room, and grabbed the microphone. The poetry slam was born—and literature was changed forever.
This incredible archive documents the global slam movement, anchoring the legacy of performance poetry right here in its birthplace.
Expect an unforgettable evening featuring powerhouse performance/slam pioneers such as Slampapi Marc Smith, Cin Salch, Poet Laureates Mark Turcotte and Mayda Del Valle, Lisa Buscani, Carlos Cumpian, Emily Calvo Thornton, Jean C. Howard & the Chicago Poetry Ensemble, Gregorio Gomez, to name a few, with current Green Mill favs such as Typing Bat Poet, Lisa Marie Farver – four decades of community, competition, and the raw power of the spoken word.
Be part of history in the making while being interviewed pre-performance by our “Slam on the Street” video crews, headed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Young Chicago Authors founder, Kevin Coval.
Finally, don’t miss viewing iconic memorabilia in the Poetry Slam Collection exhibit!
As you might know, Newberry Library is a non-profit research institution housing works from such esteemed writers as Studs Terkel, Carl Sandburg, and James Joyce. By joining us this evening as a VIP Honorary Slam Champ , you become an important ambassador for not only establishing Chicago as home of internationally acclaimed Poetry Slam, but in sharing this celebration of its origins with the world! This includes programs such as the upcoming INTERNATIONAL SLAM DAY CELEBRATION (Sept 2026), social media campaigns, community outreach programs, to name a few.
There are other ticket levels, but we’d love to see you in our VIP seating! Of course, if you can’t make that evening, making the donation helps us tremendously and gives you the same recognition and promotion benefits. We can even hold the coveted “Friends of the Slam” swag bag and signed memorabilia for you to pickup later!
For other tier pricing, see the link below. Come celebrate the legacy of the poets who refused to be quiet! Space is limited, and this historic anniversary celebration will fill up fast.