Grace Ruo and MK Stallings Wax Poetic on Black History at Ritenour Middle
St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate Grace Ruo and UrbArts founder UrbArts MK Stallings shared poems and talked Black history during a recent virtual presentation for Ritenour Middle School. In a 47 minute online experience, MK share discussed the role of “Blackart” as defined by Haki Madhubuti before sharing a poem and introducing Grace. Ritenour Middle…
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Tour Our Latest Exhibit Virtually
The Due Process Denied art show closes on MLK Day but we hope to bring back the virtual exhibit soon. If you have not seen it, it is worth checking out the powerful works of art on display. Of course, the pandemic made it necessary to close the gap between visiting the UrbArts Old North…
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King Me Poetry Reading this MLK Day
MLK Day marks the closing of the Due Process Denied exhibit as well as the date of our annual Dr. King event featuring the poetry of young voices. This year, newly inducted St. Louis youth poet laureate Grace Ruo will feature. Other poets to be announced. The event begins at 1:00 pm. DJ Siddall tha…
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UrbArts Announces the 2021 St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate
(ST. LOUIS Monday, January 11, 2021) — The 2021 St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate is Grace Ruo, a 17-year-old native Kenyan and Hazelwood West High School senior. UrbArts will host an induction ceremony online and in person on January 18th to commemorate the federal holiday and observed birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr at 1:00…
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UrbPoetry Online Poetry Series (See It Here)
Over the past two weeks, UrbArts has been livestreaming a virtual poetry reading. Tonight, it continues with Sahara Sista S.O.L.S. and Gregory Maurice. This online-only event is roughly 30 minutes in duration and hosted by MK Stallings. Join us here or on Facebook.
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Change Gon Come, New Poem by JayLuvve
Free New Year’s Day Show
It seems like every year, the Lyrical Therapy Open Mic team offers a free performance at UrbArts on New Year’s Day. The recent tradition continues as performances from Just Rich and other members of his collective open the new year with poems, songs, and good energy. While this is not their typical open mic, audiences…
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STL Youth Poets Win It All at 2019 Brave New Voices in Vegas
The UrbArts Organization’s youth poetry slam team won first place at the 2019 Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival on July 20, 2019. It’s the first time in history that a youth poetry slam team representing St. Louis has been crowned champion of the international poetry competition throughout its more than two decades…
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UrbArts on St. Louis Public Radio Podcast
Last month, UrbArts founder MK Stallings & St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate Camryn Howe talked the “transformative power” of spoken word poetry and the fun of poetry slam on Cut Paste, a podcast hosted by Jeremy Goodwin. Stallings discussed slam and weekend competition to hit .Zack when Rustbelt hits St. Louis June 21st & 22nd….
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