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‘Something exciting’: Poetry and rap merge at Simcoe Street show

RIP! Rap is Poetry event runs April 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. and will feature both Barrie and Collingwood’s poet laureates
2023-03-24tyneisha
Tyneisha Ternent, also known as Ty the Poetess, will be running the RIP! Rap is Poetry show at Simcoe Street Theatre in Collingwood on April 22.

Barrie’s poet laureate will be making the trip to Collingwood next month, and is looking for a few good Collingwood poets.

Tyneisha Ternent will be hosting a poetry show at the Simcoe Street Theatre on April 22 called RIP! Rap is Poetry. The family-friendly show was curated by Ternent – also known as Ty the Poetess – in collaboration with Collingwood's poet laureate Jillian Morris to find local artists to work together to showcase the relationship between rap and poetry.

The event is made possible through Ternent winning a 2022 ​Spark Tourism Grant in 2022, where she was given $3,000 to run poetry concerts.

“My idea was to do poetry concerts throughout Simcoe County. I wanted to bring them to Barrie, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach and Midland. I’ll have people from Barrie, but mixed with people from whichever city/town it’s happening in,” said Ternent.

Ternent is working with Morris to organize the Collingwood event, and is working to find some local poets to participate. She says she has some rappers from Collingwood and Barrie already signed on.

“I want to bring residents in Simcoe County something new, something exciting, something that people might usually have to go to Toronto for,” she said.

The Collingwood show marks Ternent’s first foray outside of Barrie. She notes the first event as part of the showcase, held in Barrie in January, sold out.

“I chose Collingwood because I came to a local author showcase there in the summer. When I read some spoken word (poetry) there, people loved it, and seemed excited by it,” she said. “Collingwood seemed really receptive to what I wanted to bring to the table.”

“It seems like an artsy, diverse, inclusive town,” said Ternent.

The event will include spoken-word artists, dancers, visual artists and rappers.

“It’s basically like a little festival,” said Ternent. “Anybody can come who wants to see local talent and how rap and poetry can relate and support the arts community.”

Ternent was named poet laureate for the City of Barrie for a four-year term in November 2022. She released her debut poetry collection, Bearing Fruit, in 2020 and has said writing has been something that has helped her through many struggles in her life.

“Especially today, we’re not able to really be vulnerable. When we show our emotions, it’s not looked at in a good light,” she said. “Poetry allows you to be vulnerable and express yourself.”

“It is very healing. For me, it’s very therapeutic,” said Ternent.

Tickets for the Collingwood show are $25 plus fees. All the proceeds from the show will go toward paying the artists, which Ternent says is an important aspect of any show she produces.

“I want to give people paid opportunities,” she said. “I’m currently looking for sponsors and partners.”

The RIP! Rap is Poetry event takes place on April 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Simcoe Street Theatre. To get tickets, click here.

If you’d be interested in participating as an artist or sponsor, Ternent can be contacted via email at [email protected].


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Jessica Owen

About the Author: Jessica Owen

Jessica Owen is an experienced journalist working for Village Media since 2018, primarily covering Collingwood and education.
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