Black Ink Presents: Poetry Night Series

HOTA Gallery Public Program

Sat 16 May - Sat 8 Aug

Black Ink Presents: Poetry Night Series

Curated by poetry champion and community activist Huda Fadlelmawla, Black Ink Presents: Poetry Night Series is a dynamic program of live open mic poetry events culminating in an end of year Grand Slam celebration.

Black Ink is dedicated to centring Black diaspora artists, cultivating a safe and brave space for BIPOC creatives grounded in open dialogue and meaningful connection. Each Poetry Night is a chance to celebrate the power of spoken word poetry as a force for artistic expression, with feature performances from established Black Ink poets, and the opportunity to participate in guided writing exercises and an open mic session.

Saturday 16 May, 6:30 – 8:00pm, doors from 6:15pm

The first Black Ink Presents event will respond to the exhibition This Moment: Highlights from the White Rabbit Collection of Chinese Contemporary Art, and showcase feature artists Serani, Thy Flood and Josie Eather. Each feature artist translates aspects of cultural identity through their chosen medium of poetry, vocals and dance.

Optional Dress Theme: Red for Roses
Question: What is the role of art in community spaces
Prompt: Share a fact about where you came from

Dates

Sat 16 May - Sat 8 Aug

Where

The Studio - HOTA Gallery

Ages

Recommended 18+

Duration

1hr 30mins

Tickets

$20
$10 Mob Tix
Mob Tix are a special allocation of tickets that allows First Nations peoples both within and outside Australia access to a discounted rate to certain programs. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from Australia are eligible, as well as Māori, Pasifika and First Nations people from other countries.

A $4 transaction fee will apply for e ticket delivery purchases (excluding free events + donations).For Hold at Box Office ticket delivery purchases, a $6 fee will apply.Please view full Terms and Conditions prior to purchasing your tickets.

Times

Sat 16 May - 6:30pm

Sat 13 June - 6:30pm

Sat 11 July - 6:30pm

Sat 08 August - 6:30pm

#Artist Bios

Huda Fadlemawla

Huda Fadlemawla is an internationally recognised spoken word poet, educator, and activist, renowned for her powerful improvised poetry. A proud Black Sudanese Muslim woman, she uses her artistry to challenge narratives, ignite conversation, and foster deep connections between audiences and writers.

With over a decade in the arts, Huda has made history and broken barriers. She won the Australian Poetry Slam in 2021 and became the first spoken word poet invited to the World Slam Poetry Championship in Belgium. Her impact spans global stages, having performed at Singapore Writers Festival, Ubud Writers Festival, London Queens of Poetry, and Readers Festival, as well as major Australian literary events like Bondi Writers Festival and Adelaide Writers Festival.

Serani

Serani, also known as Tony, is a Magandgjin-based performance poet. Since earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, Serani has performed and hosted at open mics across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. He has been a yearly slam champ at Ruckus Poetry, a state finalist at the Australian Poetry Slam Championship, and an MC for open mics that aim to empower marginalised voices. His work tends to explore the crossroads of self-identity and our external environments.

Maxwell ‘Thvflood’ Douglas

Maxwell "ThvFlood" Douglas is a multidisciplinary artist and originator of the local Australian dance style, Flood.

Representing the city of Ipswich, ThvFlood has been active in underground Australian street culture for over a decade, through street dance, beatmaking, theatre and community development in the neighbourhoods.

ThvFlood has won 20+ battles in Australia, with placings internationally, along with being a workshop facilitator all over Australia and overseas.

Josephine Eather

Josephine Eather is an emerging Filipina Australian singer/songwriter based in Meanjin/Brisbane, hailing from Gumbaynggirr country, NSW. Josephine has been honing her skills as a songwriter, vocalist and poet since her early teen years, inspired by the likes of Cleo Sol, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse and Nai Palm. Her musical style is soulful and smooth, with a taste for vocal intricacy and an emphasis on raw emotion. Her music dances between the genres of neo-soul, indie and RnB. Her songwriting tenderly navigates her experiences with girlhood, healing, grief and empowerment, with community and healing being at the core of her artistry. In each performance, audiences are brought on a journey of surrender, expansion and connection.

Black Ink

Black Ink is an open mic platform based in Magandjin (Brisbane), dedicated to centring Black diaspora artists and cultivating a safe and brave space for BIPOC creatives.

Over the past year, Black Ink has grown into a vibrant community hub where artists can gather, share, and evolve - grounded in open dialogue and meaningful connection.

Each Black Ink event is curated with a unique theme and invites attendees to make connections beyond their usual circles. Their poetry nights feature incredible local artists and include a Question of the Night - a moment designed to spark conversation, reflection, and community bonding.

At its core, Black Ink is about showcasing talent and creating space for new voices to find their way to the mic.