Red Dirt Poetry Festival is a 4-day International poetry and spoken word celebration in Mparntwe/Alice Springs
This hybrid festival promises to be an in person and digital delight with curated events and commissioned work, bringing together poets from around the country and overseas to share their stories and creative works.
With live events at venues throughout Alice Springs and online via social media and our website; presentations, workshops, showcases and exclusive commissioned works will be presented.

What Does ‘Nice’ Mean Anyway?
Niceness. It’s a nice word, in an ideal world everyone would be nice. But what does that even mean? These poets explore the concept of niceness from a poetic viewpoint as we delve deep into the idea… you may leave feeling pretty nice or you may leave questioning the existence of everything.

A message from Festival Ambassador, Catherine Satour
As the 2022 Red Dirt Poetry Festival Ambassador I invite you to ignite your imagination. As a songwriter I love creative writing and poetry – it’s raw and real.
The program this year absolutely spoils us with creative writing, performances and arts events over four days here in Mparntwe, there’s something for everyone.
2022 Artists
Jessica Knight is a writer and conflicted heathen based in Naarm. She is currently working on a memoir novel about her childhood growing up Mormon...
Originally from New Zealand, Madeleine Krenek is a dance artist now based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. She is a 2009 VCA alumna who has worked for...
Caroline Reid is an award-winning spoken word poet with a passion for playing in different artforms. She recorded her collection SIARAD (ES-Press 2020) as an...
Andrew Galan writes, performs and works on Ngunnawal Country. He has been published in Solid Air, Rabbit and Cordite. He has featured at events such...
Huda the Goddess is the current Australian Poetry Slam Champion and two-time QLD champ. Huda is a spoken word poet, educator, mental health advocate, dancer...
Rhino Milk Productions specialise in producing events that prioritise the practice of fem-identifying and gender diverse people. As creative director, Kodi draws upon their lived...
Robin M Eames is a queercrip poet and historian living on Gadigal land. Their work has been published in Overland, Cordite, Meanjin, and APJ, among...
Raynen is an artist and writer, with a dance practice and a background in film studies. They write with attention to relationality, place and cultural...