Performing writer Miles Merrill brought poetry slams to Australia from Chicago. He is the spark for dozens of spoken word programs across the Asia-Pacific region. He has hosted an ABC TV special on poetry slams and performed solo at Sydney Opera House.

Merrill is the co-author of Slam Your Poetry- How to Write a Revolution. He publishes award- winning poetry in print, audio and video but he is best experienced live. Catch him touring music festivals, theatres, galleries, schools…everywhere, like Krakow’s Audio Art Festival and writers’ festivals in Singapore, Hong Kong, India…anywhere his word travels.

He is founder of the Australian Poetry Slam (APS), an international performing writers’ program, which sees about 1000 writers performing in 80 events across the Asia-Pacific every year. APS culminates annually in October with Story Week: a national performing writers’ celebration.

Merrill’s practice, as Creative Director of the literary arts organization Word Travels, focuses on empowering people from diverse and marginalized communities to share their stories and poems with the world. Through this role he has taught leaders of non-profits in places like Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe to monitor and evaluate their impact.