VU's Open Stage for Storytellers and Poets

25/05/2021

Tonight's the night! 19:00 (Amsterdam time) the doors to our Zoom Room open (link to join below) and we'll get going with the open mic at 19:15, followed after by our amazing features, poets Camille Myrick and Ishmail Kamara.

See you there!

Join Zoom Meeting https://vu-live.zoom.us/j/95096543630?pwd=a216UW5hZEVNS2E3L2h6aXBmOUw0QT09

Meeting ID: 950 9654 3630
Passcode: 890045

SILJA Kelleris is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: VUOpenStage Presents: THE END (OF YEAR) OPEN MIC AND POETRY NIGHT

Time: May 25, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) (19:00 Amsterdam)

19/12/2019

Hi everyone! As the first year of VU OpenStage comes to an end, I just want to express my gratitude to all of you, whether you came to an event, read a poem or a story, helped out, shared posts, gave feedback, whatever! All of it helps to make these evenings as special as they are, so thank you! We're excited to get back at it again after the holidays, so if you're interested in gracing our stage, keep us in mind if you get your creative juices flowing, over the next few weeks. Hope this winter period is productive and fruitful for everyone.

Sincerely with gratitude,
Silja Kelleris
Founding Coordinator: VU OpenStage

28/11/2019

Anyone interested in doing a reading at the VU's celebration of lights? The VU is looking for two people (one dutch, one english speaking) to read a poem on the concept of light, (up to your interpretation) Anyone interested, contact Miranda van Holland!

Here's a bit of info.
On monday December the 16th, will celebrate the first Vrije Lichtjesfeest, the first Celebration of Lights, here at the Vrije Universiteit. As an academic community, we are involved in science on a daily basis. During this meeting we want to shift the focus to what connects us as a community. We’ll be doing so by creating a new celebration of light, inspired by old stories and wisdom traditions such as Hanukkah, Diwali, and Christmas.

All students and staff are invited to participate in this Celebration of Lights. The idea is to walk in four groups from one of the buildings of the university complex to the 3D debate center at the VU campus square. All participants are offered something warm to drink on campus square and together we candles and listen to a few short contributions. The first group starts on the fifteenth floor of the main building at 5 p.m. And people on each floor join the group. At the same time, a group starts walking from the medical faculty, another from the O2 building and a group from the W&N building, towards the campus square. We hope to meet each other there at 5:15 pm.

This is a wonderful way to end the year before the holiday season starts, so even if you aren't interested in reading, do consider attending this event for its focus on unity and the celebration of light in humanity.

18/07/2019

Photocred: Clarisse Tenreiro

07/05/2019

Hey, hi, hello!
A few weeks have passed now since our first open mic night, and we're soon going to prepare for round 2 of this academic year. Super exciting! But in the meantime, there's a few other awesome things going on in the literary community at the VU. Firstly, Expanded Field Journal has just launched the writer in residence's project on campus, and you can now find several ways to listen to translations of selections from the journal's short story anthology. Secondly, Miranda van Holland let me know that 3D is looking to put interesting people talking about interesting things on the radio- which is super cool. So if you've heard you have a face for radio (that's a borrowed joke), contact Miranda and find out how you can get involved- perhaps with a reading, a discussion on your favorite pieces of writing or your favorite authors, or really anything else you feel passionate about. LASTLY: I've attached a picture of our segment in the school's newspaper. Puck van Gendt you're famous.
That's it from me- our next open mic night will be announced soon.
-Silja

21/01/2019

Guys... We've made it to the big leagues: YOUTUBE. Here's the promo video for the Student Initiative Awards. While this video is super silly, I can assure you that the club is very serious business and therefore needs some serious funding- so if you're a student at the VU and you haven't already voted, please consider our initiative as an option. The only option. Voting ends Thursday 24th.
And of course, I am totally joking with the aggressive campaigning; I just think an open mic night at the VU would be a great place to meet for drinks, food and of course creative expression.

https://vu.nl/en/about-vu-amsterdam/organization/student-representation/studentinitiative/index.aspx

De Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam wil met haar onderwijs en onderzoek bijdragen aan een betere wereld. De VU biedt kwalitatief hoogwaardig, betekenisvol en uit...

18/01/2019

It is a sad day for the literary and creative world, in hearing of the passing of American poet Mary Oliver. So in tune with the spirit of this club, and in respect to the work of Mary Oliver, I'd like to share one of my favorites of her readings: Wild Geese.

Poet Mary Oliver reads her poem "Wild Geese": You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repen...

14/01/2019

If you, like me, would like to see an Open Mic Club for Storytelling, Songwriting and Poetry at Vrije University, be sure to vote for our Initiative to get funding this week at the link.

And while you're there check out our promotional video for the occasion, as well as the other initiatives promoted by other VU students.

Cast your vote and experience the showdown at het VU New Year's Gala 2019 Student initiatives are essential to the work of VU Amsterdam; the Green Office is a prime example of a concept that began as a student initiative. That’s why the University Student Council celebrates student initiatives tha...

07/01/2019

Welcome to the official FB page of this Vrije University centered Open Mic Club. This page exists as a platform to advertise and organize open mic happenings in which VU students (and non- VU students as well, as long as they are nice) will have the chance to read poetry, tell stories and perform music (limited to acoustic due to spacial availability- so no SLAYER tribute bands, I'm afraid). And because the limelight is not for everyone, this group is also dedicated to those just looking to be entertained and delighted by their friends' various talents. So come one, come all.
Right now we're in the preparation/ organizational phase looking onto our first event at the VU and we'd sure love it if lots of people decided to join, both as performers and as audience members, so spread the word: pick up your phone, call your friends, call your family, call everyone. Even that one weird uncle that no one in your family talks to. Call him. Stay tuned on this page for updates on upcoming events, inspirational videos related to all things creative and long manic rants like this one. And lastly if you wanna do all the people behind this initiative a huge solid, throw us a LIKE- that'd be real nice.