More Than A Literary Festival

All Upcoming Events

We host regular online events and we run creative writing workshops with some of the best facilitators – visionaries in publishing, language and all aspects of writing –  throughout the year for you to access wherever you are.

Discounts for Friends of Bocas Premium Subscribers will be applied automatically at checkout.

Mar 25 2023
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Little Carib Theatre

Events & Projects

Now that the stage has been set, can any of these poets dethrone Defending Champion, Alexandra Stewart, and take home the cash prize of $50,000?

Mar 26 2023
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Little Carib Theatre

Events & Projects

Now that the stage has been set, can any of these poets dethrone Defending Champion, Alexandra Stewart, and take home the cash prize of $50,000?

Apr 27 2023
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Festival Schedule

Fiction,Performance,Poetry,Pre-Festival Events

Powerful stories and poems, music and drinks, fellowship and fun: BackChat returns, with some of T&T’s most exciting LGBTQI+ writers and performers, plus some surprise guests! Stay tuned for updates on the venue.

Apr 28 2023
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
1st Floor Seminar Room

Festival Schedule

Workshop

The National Library’s conservator will conduct a workshop on the long-term preservation of paper-based collections. Topics will include identifying and combating agents of deterioration; care and handling techniques; protective enclosures and storage conditions; and simple preservation techniques.

Apr 28 2023
9:45 am - 9:55 am
Outside Children's Library

Festival Schedule

Dragonzilla Welcome

Dragonzilla, our NGC Children’s Bocas Lit Fest Mascot, welcomes teachers and students to the festival.

Apr 28 2023
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Old Fire Station

Festival Schedule

Four years after our last in-person festival, the NGC Bocas Lit Fest returns to downtown Port of Spain! As we kick off, spoken word poet Shimiah Lewis performs a specially commissioned new piece welcoming readers and writers back to the festival village.

Apr 28 2023
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
AV Room

Festival Schedule

Writers First

Our series of free seminars for budding and self-published authors returns, covering crucial aspects of the book business and tips to unlock your creativity. Stay tuned for more details!

Apr 28 2023
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Children's Library Main Room

Festival Schedule

Author Readings

Jeunanne Alkins, author of The Most Magnificent!, reads from the popular book.

Apr 28 2023
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Children's Library Storytelling Room

Festival Schedule

Workshop

A spoken word workshop that looks at poetry as a means to build self esteem.

Apr 28 2023
10:00 am - 11:00 am
2nd Floor Seminar Room

Festival Schedule

Presentation

Let’s Read TT discusses the importance of libraries in primary schools. Presenters: Suzette Cadiz and Alison de la Bastide of Let’s Read TT. Moderated by Tracy Assing.

Apr 28 2023
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Old Fire Station

Festival Schedule

Big Ideas

Our 2019 festival hosted a hard-hitting debate exploring how gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and class affect our political rights and our everyday lives. Now we assemble a panel of activists and experts to ask how the promise of equality written into our national anthem actually plays out for people with physical and mental differences and disabilities.

Apr 28 2023
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Children's Library Main Room

Festival Schedule

Storytelling

Storytime with a festival favourite!

Apr 28 2023
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Abercromby Street Arcade

Festival Schedule

Performance

Two master calypsonians pay tribute in song to two of T&T’s recently departed cultural exemplars: calypsonian Black Stalin and scholar Gordon Rohlehr — then they ask for your prompts to continue their extempo repartee! In partnership with the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts.

Apr 28 2023
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
AV Room

Festival Schedule

Film

Take a trip through the NGC Bocas Lit Fest digital archives with three short films featuring some of T&T’s most talented spoken word performers.

Apr 28 2023
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Children's Library Main Room

Festival Schedule

Author Readings

“Young and Gifted”: Young Writers Showcase, featuring Isaac Price, Aija Jerome, David Ryan, Daniel Ryan, Josh Hansraj, Josse Franco, Vishawn Gosyne, Ashmita Ramoutar, Mila Smith, and Kai de Alexis.

Apr 28 2023
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Abercromby Street Arcade

Festival Schedule

Fiction,Open Mic,Performance,Poetry

It’s a two-part, laid-back, high energy celebration of T&T’s emerging writing talent! Our New Talent Showcase spotlights up and coming authors, followed by our signature open mic event.

Garvin Tafari Parsons
Apr 28 2023
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Old Fire Station

Festival Schedule

Fiction

Debut novelists Cherie Jones (How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House) and Sharma Taylor (What a Mother’s Love Don’t Teach You) share their intimate, emotional narratives about family, love, and loss. Hosted by Alake Pilgrim.

Apr 28 2023
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
AV Room

Festival Schedule

Writers First

Our series of free seminars for budding and self-published authors continues, covering crucial aspects of the book business and tips to unlock your creativity. Stay tuned for details!

Apr 28 2023
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Children's Library Storytelling Room

Festival Schedule

Workshop

Come and learn the art of extempo, T&T’s classic artform!

Apr 28 2023
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Old Fire Station

Festival Schedule

Fiction

Jan Carson (The Raptures) and Ayanna Lloyd Banwo (When We Were Birds) read from their new novels exploring the unstable boundaries between this life and the next. Hosted by Hadassah K. Williams. In partnership with the British Council and the Belfast International Arts Festival.

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FAQs

When do you have workshops?

The Bocas Lit Fest now offers writing workshops throughout the year, not only during the annual NGC Bocas Lit Fest. Our in-person workshops are held at The Writers Centre, 14 Alcazar Street, St. Clair, and our online workshops are facilitated via Zoom. To attend a workshop, you must book a ticket via our website and make advance payment. This page is updated whenever a new workshop opens for registration. 

Who can register for a workshop?

Anyone! We programme a range of workshops, from general “getting started” writing workshops to advanced masterclasses with one-on-one feedback. Each workshop blurb will include specific details so you can decide if it’s the right development opportunity for you. We listen to participant feedback received in our workshop evaluations to book future in-demand workshops. Please feel free to contact us to request a workshop!

How do I know my registration form was submitted successfully?

An auto-email response is generated for every completed registration and sent to the email address you provided on the registration form.  If you do not see an auto-response in your inbox, please check your spam/junk mail folders. If you have paid for the workshop on registration by credit card, then you will receive the workshop meeting link and login information immediately by email. If you have opted to pay by bank transfer, then we will wait on proof of payment before emailing the workshop information.

How can I pay for my workshop ticket(s)?

Each registration form lists payment options and deadlines. When completing registration, you are required to indicate your preferred method of payment. We have a few payment options:

  • Advance Bank Deposit or Online Transfer payable to Bocas Lit Fest via Republic Bank Ltd: Account Number 180484065001. You are required to email a copy of the deposit/transfer receipt to: workshops@bocaslitfest.com
  • Credit card payment via WiPay Caribbean online merchant services.
  • If you would like to pay with cash or cheque, then you can make an appointment to come into The Writers Centre, 14 Alcazar Street, St. Clair to make payment. 

Is my workshop fee payment refundable?

All workshop fee payments are non-refundable and due in advance of the workshop/event dates. Registration tickets are not valid without accompanying proof of payment.

What does a registration Waiting List mean?

This means that our workshop has reached capacity and your registration attempt has been assigned to a waiting list. Once the payment deadline for registrations has elapsed, remaining workshop spaces are offered to the waiting list and are confirmed via receipts of fee payment on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be notified via email of space availability and /or phone call.

What does my workshop reservation or ticket look like?

Each registration is assigned a unique ticket number and barcode which is auto-generated and sent to your email address. In cases where this is not applicable, you will receive a simple email confirmation.

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