MOTOWN MUSEUM PRESENTS "MOTOWN MIC: THE SPOKEN WORD"

Motown Museum announced today that they will host their second annual Motown Mic: The Spoken Word grand finale event at 7 p.m. on June 13 at The Music Hall in Detroit. The event, which is open to the public, will feature performances from ten local poets and artists selected as finalists from a series of spoken word events hosted by the Museum earlier this spring. Robin R. Terry, Chairwoman and CEO of the Board of Trustees of Motown Museum, made the announcement.

Motown Mic: The Spoken Word will showcase the finalists performing an original, Motown-inspired poetry piece with the winner being selected from a panel of judges. The winning artist will receive $1,000, have their piece published on a commemorative literary broadside and will be featured on the Motown Museum website as the 2015 Motown Mic: The Spoken Word Artist of the Year.

“This event is an incredible opportunity to witness some of Detroit’s most talented artists, which is aligned with the Museum’s mission to preserve, protect and present the Motown story through authentic, inspirational and educational experiences,” said Terry. “At its heart, Motown Mic celebrates this story and its influential legacy.”

Motown Mic: The Spoken Word was created to pay homage to the Black Forum Label—a Motown spoken word label created by Berry Gordy and the Motown Corporation in the ‘60s as a venue for Black expression and education. The label served to capture the voices of African American poets and orators such as Langston Hughes, Stokey Carmichael, Elaine Brown, Ossie Davis and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose moving and inspirational “I Have A Dream” speech was recorded by the label. As Motown revolutionized the music industry, its Black Forum Label documented the social consciousness of a generation—Motown Mic: The Spoken Word is a continuation of that rich legacy.

“Motown Museum is committed to inspiring the next generation of artists to find—and share—their voices and artistic talents,” said Terry. “It is our hope that the community and Motown fans of all ages will join us for this unique experience, which celebrates Motown’s rich musical and cultural history and these incredibly talented local artists.”

Sparrow, a recognized poet in the local artistic and poetic community, will host the evening, which is generously sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. Pre-sale tickets for the event are now available for $15 on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/d/mi--detroit/motown-mic%3A-the-spoken-word/ Motown Museum is offering a special $15 ticket price for attendees who arrive to the show by or before 8 p.m. For attendees arriving after 8 p.m., general admission is $20 at the door.

The Music Hall is located at 350 Madison Street in Detroit, Michigan 48226. For more information, please visit motownmuseum.org or call 313.875.2264.