SPEAK Cafe, standing for song, poetry, expression, art and knowledge, is an open-mic, public performance event hosted on the first Thursday of each month at the Krannert Art Museum.
Ongoing for nearly 20 years, University professor Dr. Will Patterson originally started the project as a classroom initiative in the courses he taught. Since then, the event has taken off to become the success it is today.
“Dr. Will Patterson on campus had been involved in lots of projects that sought to amplify access to the arts and to the university, particularly for Black and brown students in Champaign county,” said Rachel Storm, assistant director of community engagement at KAM and event coordinator for SPEAK.
Despite Dr. Patterson’s passing this past year, his project has been continued by those who have worked closely with him.
“When Dr. Will Patterson passed away, it affected us all,” Storm said. “We’re all friends of his. This is a community event that’s got this deep history.”
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The event is currently hosted by Shaya Robinson, a local C-U poet and philanthropist, who originally started sharing her poems at SPEAK.
“Since I could remember I’ve been writing poetry. It really kind of saved my life. It shaped my perspective,” Robinson said.
The event features guest performers as well as a space for the public to share work of their own in an open-mic format, along with the occasional writer’s workshop or exercises.
This month’s SPEAK Cafe focused on the museum art exhibits “Could You Dim the Lights?” by Jen Everett and “The Museum of Lesbian Dreams,” by Millie Wilison.
At the start of the event, participants were invited to explore the featured exhibits, allowing them to feel inspired by the art around them. Prompted to sketch, move or write in response to the art, guests are encouraged to share what they came up with at the open mic portion of the event.
“Whether you’re sharing work that you created yourself. Work that you admire from somebody else. No matter your medium, music, performance or writing, this has been a great place for workshopping works in progress and celebrating tremendous artists in our community too,” Storm said.
Robinson mentioned the inspiring effect the art tends to have on visitors.
“We’re giving people an opportunity to not only change their own lives but also change the lives of others around them because of the art they’re able to share,” Robinson said. “We get breakthroughs in here all the time.”
Many patrons who come to SPEAK are amateur writers, artists, students and community members sharing their work for the first time. Others are seasoned professionals, who come to support and inspire with their work. Will Reger, a self-published poet, frequents the SPEAK Cafe events.
“As someone who is an established poet getting to perform with these young folks, sometimes they are limited by their abilities, their experience, but also they are very good at getting right to the moment, the meat of the matter and I think that’s great,” Reger said. “That’s one of the reasons I like coming here.”
Regardless of their background, Robinson said she encourages everyone to share their work at the mic.
“We really try to make it a family environment. I try to make everybody feel comfortable here,” Robinson said.
September’s SPEAK Cafe was the first event of the semester, with two more scheduled for October and November, each centering around different museum exhibitions. Everyone is welcome to come out and share, with no sign-up required.
“I would encourage people if they’ve never been to SPEAK Cafe to come out and see what’s here,” Robinson said. “You never know what happens when you get a room full of people together.”
