Brave New Words is dedicated to inspiring, creating poetry, spoken word and performance art events as integral to the youth and community life of Whidbey Island. It operates under the auspices of Greenbank Farm, a qualified 501 C-3 under the laws of Washington State.

In "odd" years organizers of Brave New Words plan to produce a one-day festival and in "even" years a series of smaller more intimate events.

For 2010 there are six events scheduled. More may be added as funding and presenter availability allow.

Each event will have two parts:

1) a free workshop/performance for Whidbey youth in the afternoon.
2) a free performance in the evening for the whole community.

The festival hopes to offer all events free of charge as a way to lower barriers and increase accessibility to the community at large.

Organizers believe that spoken word productions can provide a platform for the culture where concerns and values of a community can be communicated and shared. BNW is dedicated to inspiring and creating poetry, spoken word and performance art events which are seen as integral to the youth and community of Whidbey Island.

WIAC was a major sponsor of the very first Brave New Words poetry festival on April 18, 2009. The reviews are in and the conclusion is that Brave New Words was a bonafide hit.

The Whidbey Island Arts Council was happy to do its part by becoming a major sponsor to get the brand new one-day festival off the ground at Greenbank Farm. The festival invites the community and off-island folks to celebrate life, poetry and community and to increase the visibility and viability of poetry in a uniquely Whidbey format and environment. Features of the event are award-winning poets, youth poets developed in our own community, multilingual poetry, an inspiring workshop, a hosted open mic, poetry/art installations, music, connection and inspiration.

The Whidbey Island Arts Council, which has a long tradition of supporting all genres of the arts on Whidbey was eager to make a generous donation to the fledgling festival along with an offer of in-kind services.

"Brave New Words" is meant to be a community event," festival organizer Victory Schouten said.

"To flourish we needed exactly these kind of generous, committed sponsors and volunteers to step up. Without them there would literally be no Brave New Words. We feel very lucky and grateful to all of those who are generously offering their support in a myriad of creative ways."

Anyone wishing to make a donation or volunteer for Brave New Words 2010 can contact Schouten by phone at 360-331-7099 or 360-222-3070. Or e-mail info@BraveNewWords.org. All donations are tax deductible.