The National Spoken Word Awards was founded in 2017 by De'Andre Hawthorne aka Blaq Ice, an international award winning Spoken Word Poet from Chicago and the father of the Chicago Poet Laureate. He was instrumental in bringing the National Poetry Awards to Chicago in 2016, the 7th and final year of the National Poetry Awards. The end of the National Poetry Awards inspired the beginning of the NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS.
The awards were created to honor American Spoken Word Artists and those international Spoken Word artists who have made an impact in the United States. The 1st annual Spoken Word Awards was held on Saturday September 2, 2017 in Chicago IL. The NSWAs will be held every year, the weekend of Labor Day, kicking off International Spoken Word Month. The nomination period takes place every year, starting April 1st (National Poetry Month), and ending the third Sunday in May.
The nomination period starts April 1st, the first day of National Poetry Month and goes until May 15th. The voting period starts June 1st until July 31st. Voting is done electronically, fairly and every Spoken Word artist has the same opportunity to get their fans and supporters to vote for them. The National Spoken Word Awards has done what no other awards show does, post the voting results, so that all could see the transparency and the integrity of the National Spoken Word Awards. Please visit our website at nationalspokenwordawards.com
2018 NSWA RED CARPET INTERVIEWS
- 5:34
- 3:34
- 1. HINDSIGHT3:35
- 3:22
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2022 NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
NOMINATIONS CAN BE DONE BY EMAIL AT NATIONALSPOKENWORDAWARDS@GMAIL.COM OR FACEBOOK PAGE
AT NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
ARTISTS ARE NOMINATED FOR WORK DONE BETWEEN
APRIL OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THE CURRENT YEAR
WINNERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHIPPING OF THEIR AWARDS
NOMINEES WHO RECEIVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF VOTES SHALL BE CONSIDERED A TIE
01. NSWA BEST SPOKEN WORD MALE / FEMALE
02. NSWA BEST SPOKEN WORD FEMALE
03. BLAQ ICE AWARD/BEST SPOKEN WORD ENTERTAINER
04. BEST SPOKEN WORD STAGE SHOW
05. BEST OPEN MIC SET
06. BEST HOST
07. BEST COMETRY OF THE YEAR
08. INTERNATIONAL SPOKEN WORD ARTIST OF THE YEAR
09. NICO WASHINGTON/NSWA PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
10. BEST SPOKEN WORD VENUE
11. SLAM SPOKEN WORD ARTIST OF THE YEAR
12. BEST SPOKEN WORD YOUTH (UNDER 19)
13. BEST SPOKEN WORD DUO OR GROUP
14. STRAWBERRI TAYLOR AWARD/ BEST EROTIC
15. BEST SPIRITUAL SPOKEN WORD ARTIST
16. RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
17. RADIO SHOW / TV OR STATION OF THE YEAR
18. BEST SPOKEN WORD STORYTELLER
19. ARMEN RAH / NSWA MENTORSHIP AWARD
20. P.O.E.T COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
21. BEST SPOKEN WORD CD
22. NSWA OVERCOMER OF THE YEAR
SPIRITUAL NOMINEE PERFORMANCES
RISING STAR AND SLAM ARTIST NOMINEES
GET READY FOR THE 2024 NSWA
THE NSWA YOUTH NOMINEE PERFORMANCES
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SOLD OUT 2020 NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
THE 2019 NSWA STAGE PERFORMANCES
2018 NSWA HIGHLIGHTS
We will have performers at the awards and there will also be an open mic portion before the awards on the red carpet. For tickets and info call 312.719.7310
RED CARPET 3:00PM
RED CARPET OPEN MIC 3:30PM
AWARDS 4:30PM
COMETRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2023 NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS
1. MUST BE A PERFORMING POET W/ VIDEO PROOF
2. MUST BE A PERFORMING POET WITH VIDEO PROOF
3. VIDEO PROOF OF AUDIENCE PERFORMANCE
4. VIDEO PROOF OF STAGE SHOW
5. AN OPEN MIC THAT RAN AFTER APRIL THE PREVIOUS YEAR
6. MUST HAVE VIDEO PROOF
7. VIDEO PROOF PERFORMING 3 COMEDY POETRY PIECES
8. MUST BE AN ACTIVE PERFORMER OUTSIDE THE U.S.
9. MUST PUT ON SPOKEN WORD EVENTS
10. MUST HOST SPOKEN WORD EVENTS
11. MUST HAVE PROOF YOU HAVE ENTERED SLAMS
12. MUST HAVE PROOF OF STAGE PERFORMANCE
13. MUST HAVE PROOF OF GROUP PERFORMANCE
14. LOVE, SEX, ROMANTIC OR EROTIC PERFORMANCE
15. MUST PERFORM 3 OR MORE DIFFERENT SPIRITUAL OR RELIGIOUS PIECES
16. POETS WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES
17. MUST HAVE A CURRENT POETRY RADIO / TV SHOW
18. STAGE PERFORMANCES BEST TELLING A STORY
19. PROOF OF MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS
20. PROOF OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
21. CD RELEASE DATE MUST BE AFTER APRIL THE PREVIOUS YEAR
22. SPOKEN WORD ARTIST WITH DISABILITIES / HEALTH CHALLENGES
2017 NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS HIGHLIGHTS
NEW LOCATION TBD
THE 2018 NSWA WINNERS
NSWA CATEGORIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SOLD OUT 2021 NATIONAL SPOKEN WORD AWARDS