Strong Words was launched in Toronto in 2005. It was the first event developed by Indiepolitik, a community organization dedicated to bridging the gap between artists and activists in Toronto. It was founded by writer/editor Kate Carraway and Indiepolitik founder Matt Blair. After a brief series of readings at Labyrinth Lounge, Strong Words found a permanent home at the Gladstone Art Bar. Although Indiepolitik itself will soon be shutting down, Strong Words will continue as an independent reading series.
Writer Moez Surani took over as co-curator in 2007, replacing Carraway after she chose to leave the series to pursue her own projects. However, Surani chose to leave the series at the end of 2008, with our forty-third reading being his last. From January of 2009 onward, Strong Words has been booked by Spencer Butt and Devon Code.
In 2006, Strong Words celebrated its first anniversary with the publication of Strong Words: Year One, an anthology featuring previous unpublished works by some of the artists and performers who were featured during our first year. This was followed in 2007 by a second anthology.
Strong Words has proudly supported the Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy, a network of individuals and groups who promote adult literacy in the greater Toronto area. We have collected donations of new and used books in resale condition at our readings, and a portion of the proceeds from select anthologies will also be donated to the MTML. Because they are not currently accepting book donations, the books that we collect at our current readings will be donated to the Book Ends program at the Toronto Public Library.
Strong Words is programmed by Devon Code and Spencer Butt, and hosted by Matt Blair. The logo was designed by Justin Cozens, and the artwork that appears on the cover of both of our anthologies was created by Norman Yeung.
For more information on Strong Words, and to find out how you can get involved, feel free to contact us.
