Bankstown Poetry Slam
2023 Winner
Bankstown Poetry Slam is a volunteer-led community organisation which has had an immense impact over the past decade. Bankstown Poetry Slam was the first regular poetry Slam from Western Sydney and have since gained national recognition as the largest regular slam in the country. Heralding in thousands of people every year they have featured renowned spoken word poets such as Rupi Kaur, Rudy Francisco, Safia El Hillo, Nate Marshall, Anthony Anaxagorou, Omar Musa and Luka Lesson.
Bansktown Poetry Slam have also been instrumental in bringing new voices to Australian publishing through their four anthologies. They also run workshops and hold performances in high schools and other organisations. They have sparked a love of poetry in their Western Sydney community have described their organisation as multiculturalism personified.
Bansktown Poetry Slam are commended for their dedication and impact in facilitating a flourishing of voices. Co-founder and director Sara Mansour discusses their impact in her Ted X talk, titled The Resurgence of Literature Across Western Sydney.
They have been selected as the Special Award recipient by the 2023 Judging Panel for their contribution to the literary life of Australia.