Join Shelly Grace for drop-in style poetry sessions. She will help unlock all your senses in writing and growing your imagery. There will also be a focus on writing for audiences and opportunities to grow performance skillsets.

Session 1: Senses and stanzas

Session 2: Poetry, pasts, and possibilities (introduction to speculative writing)

Session 3: Monologue and letters

Session 4: Structure

Session 5: Performance

Bring a journal and some writing supplies to get your thoughts and senses down for the poetry prompts!

Shelly Grace is a Toronto-based spoken word poet, photographer, and arts educator. She uses her art for community building and healing and focuses on the experiences of women and the Black community. In 2022 she was named Toronto’s Breakthrough Artist by Toronto Arts Foundation, and JAYU's Emerging Artist of the year.

In 2019 she won the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word while on the Up From The Roots slam team, becoming a National Spoken Word Champion. She is currently on the Toronto Poetry Slam team. She is also actively involved with VIBE Arts on their emerging artist roster, where she works as an art educator and performer. She is an artist and organizer with IBLV Tv, founded by celebrated Toronto artist Jermaine Henry. She has competed internationally as well, representing Canada in three American competitions.

Shelly is focused on the power of storytelling and has been working to have visual art be a part of her method.

Through various professional and artistic roles, Shelly has contributed significantly to Toronto's arts and culture scene. Previously working with BSAM Canada, now Oddside Arts, in a marketing/admin capacity, she helped the organization continue doing great work. She collaborated with them on a project, "Among Us," that honours the significance of Emancipation Day in Canada, the project was just announced as a nominee for Heritage Toronto’s 2022 Public History Award, CABR and the City of Toronto supported this project.

She has also performed and worked for groups such as Toronto Poetry Slam (TPS), Toronto Public Library (TPL), Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and more, sharing her voice across the city.

Shelly continues to be unapologetically Black, loud, giving, and a force.

No-Show Attendance Policy

5 minutes prior to the class start time, if there are any no-shows from the original reserved participants, those spots will be filled on a first-come first-served basis by drop-in participants. Please let us know by 4PM on class day if you have to cancel your participation. If you are a no-show (without advance communication) for any three TO Live community classes, this forfeits your ability to pre-register for future classes.