Word Travels
Word Travels is an Australian not-for-profit cultural organisation founded in 2010 that operates the Australian Poetry Slam, Story Week festival, APS Youth, Multilingual Poetry Slam, and education workshops, serving performing writers, youth, First Nations communities, refugee and immigrant communities, and regional and remote populations across Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Word Travels does
Word Travels is an Australian not-for-profit cultural organisation founded in 2010 and headquartered in Darlinghurst, NSW, that operates the nation's pre-eminent spoken word and poetry slam platform. Its flagship offering is the Australian Poetry Slam (APS), launched in 2006, which runs as a national competition with heats in over 60 locations across every Australian state and territory and culminates in a National Final at the Sydney Opera House. The organisation delivers complementary programs including Story Week (an annual storytelling festival), APS Youth, the Multilingual Poetry Slam, and education workshops delivered through partnerships with libraries, schools, youth centres, councils, prisons, pubs, businesses and government bodies. In 2023 it reported 190 activities, 3,714 program participants, 307,188 audience members, 92 paid artists and 9 arts workers, with cumulative reach since 2010 of 8.2 million audience members and 19,000 performing writers.
The underlying technology stack is light and dependency-driven rather than proprietary: live and online events are ticketed via Eventbrite, donations processed through Donorbox, and digital innovation is concentrated in augmented-reality experiences (the 12 Cocoons urban poetry project and the Stop Money AR Experience featuring Jazz Money) built on the 8thwall web AR platform. The organisation also publishes physical products including the Slam Your Poetry: Write a Revolution book (co-authored with NewSouth Publishing) and chapbooks by APS champions. There is no proprietary SaaS or software platform; the AR experiences are location-triggered media rather than AI-driven systems.
The revenue model is a not-for-profit mix of government grants (Creative Australia, Create NSW, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RISE Fund, City of Sydney, City Arts), tax-deductible private donations, low-cost or free event ticketing (90 percent of events offered free or at low ticket prices, with examples including A$10 per student for APS Youth Day and A$19.80-A$38.50 for the Queensland State Final), and one-time book and chapbook sales. International revenue and brand reach are extended through partnerships with festivals in Indonesia, Singapore, India and elsewhere. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven: national touring heats feed state and national finals, while workshops, school programs and correctional facility engagements deliver grassroots reach.
Word Travels firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Word Travels
- Legal name
- Word Travels
- Website
- https://wordtravels.info
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Word Travels is an Australian not-for-profit cultural organisation founded in 2010 that operates the Australian Poetry Slam, Story Week festival, APS Youth, Multilingual Poetry Slam, and education workshops, serving performing writers, youth, First Nations communities, refugee and immigrant communities, and regional and remote populations across Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Word Travels industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Services
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spoken-Word Poetry Slams (MPAGACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Storytelling Events (Moth-style, Live Narratives) (MPAGACAG), Spoken Word & Performance Poetry Workshops (EDAMAMAM)
Keywords
Where Word Travels is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Word Travels business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Grants: Funding from Creative Australia, Create NSW, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RISE Fund, and City of Sydney for various programs and touring
- Private Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting artists and programs; monthly donor program available
- Ticket Sales: Low-cost and free ticketed events; 90% of events offered for free with low ticket prices as guiding principle
- Book Sales: Sale of published books including Slam Your Poetry: Write a Revolution and Introducing Me chapbook
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Slam Your Poetry: Write a Revolution book - A$27.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | APS Youth Day - $10 per student, free for schools with ICSEA under 1000 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Queensland State Final tickets - A$19.80-$38.50 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Donation tiers - $80 workshop, $400 artist fee, $1000 tour stop, monthly donor option |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Word Travels product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Word Travels is an Australian not-for-profit cultural organisation that produces nationwide spoken word poetry events and programs, including the Australian Poetry Slam competition (60+ heats across Australia culminating in a National Final at the Sydney Opera House), the annual Story Week festival, APS Youth, the Multilingual Poetry Slam, school-based spoken word education workshops, and published books on spoken word. The organisation operates from Darlinghurst, NSW and partners with libraries, schools, councils, prisons, and government bodies to deliver performing writer programs in communities across Australia.
Product overview
Word Travels is a not-for-profit cultural organization that operates primarily as a live events and education provider rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of live and online programs centered on spoken word poetry and storytelling, with Australian Poetry Slam and Story Week as flagship offerings. These core programs are complemented by education initiatives delivered in schools, workshops for emerging artists, and published works including the 'Slam Your Poetry' book and chapbooks. The organization also produces digital AR experiences as supplementary products. The portfolio functions as a unified mission-driven offering focused on empowering performing writers, with no traditional SaaS platform or technology product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Australian Poetry Slam (APS): Australia's nationwide poetry slam competition with heats in over 60 locations, state finals and a national final at the Sydney Opera House. Launched in 2006.
- APS Youth
- Multilingual Poetry Slam
- Story Week
Products and services
- Australian Poetry Slam Nationwide poetry slam competition with heats in over 60 locations across Australia, culminating in a National Final at the Sydney Opera House. Poets perform original work in two-minute slots for audience scoring; winners receive gig opportunities across Australia and Asia.
- Story Week Annual storytelling festival celebrating poetry, spoken word, and community storytelling through events including workshops, performances, story dinners, and discussions across various venues. The 2025 edition ran 11 to 26 October.
- APS Youth
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,714 program participants, 307,188 audience members, 92 paid artists in 2023 alone
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Word Travels
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Word Travels technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Word Travels partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NewSouth PublishingcorePartnership to publish Slam Your Poetry: Write a Revolution - Australia's first guide to spoken word and poetry slams, co-authored by Miles Merrill and Narcisa Nozica
- State Library VictoriacoreHosting Victorian State Final of Australian Poetry Slam and Story Week events
- Ubud Writers and Readers FestivalminorFestival partnership supporting APS 2025; artists invited to perform at international festival
- Mumbai LitFestminorFestival partnership supporting APS 2025; artists invited to perform internationally
- Singapore Writers FestivalminorFestival partnership supporting APS 2025; international artist opportunities
- Byron Writers FestivalminorFestival partnership supporting APS 2025; performance opportunities for champions
- BEMACminorQueensland arts organization presenting Australian Poetry Slam events in Queensland
- Black InkminorQueensland poetry organization co-presenting Australian Poetry Slam events
- Alternator PoetryminorPoetry organization co-presenting Australian Poetry Slam in Queensland
- Cairns FestivalminorRegional festival partnership for Queensland poetry slam events
- Liquid Lyrics Poetry SlamminorPoetry slam organization co-presenting Queensland events
- Mackay Poetry SlamminorRegional poetry slam organization for Mackay Queensland
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Word Travels competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Get Lit - Words Ignite: Get Lit is a US nonprofit using spoken-word poetry to boost literacy and youth voice in schools. Comparable on mission (spoken-word as youth empowerment), school-based workshop delivery model, and poetry-as-education positioning.
- Nuyorican Poets Cafe: Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a legendary NYC spoken-word venue hosting poetry slams, open mics and education programs. Comparable on spoken-word/slam format, education programming for youth, and culturally-rooted community storytelling mission.
- The Moth: The Moth operates a global network of live storytelling events and slams, sharing Word Travels' model of community-driven, audience-judged spoken-word performances. Comparable on format (live narrative events), audience scoring mechanic, and educational/community programming extensions.
- Australian Poetry: Australian Poetry is the national peak body for poetry, running national programs, residencies and events. Comparable on Australian poetry ecosystem positioning, national programming scope, and government-grant-supported nonprofit structure.
- Red Room Poetry: Red Room Poetry is an Australian nonprofit producing poetry projects, commissions and events with schools and communities. Directly comparable on geography (Australia), mission (poetry empowerment and education), and audience (emerging and established poets, schools, communities).
Broad incumbents
- National Storytelling Network: National Storytelling Network is a US-based membership organization promoting storytelling across education, performance and community. Comparable on storytelling festival programming, education outreach, and nonprofit arts-sector positioning.
- Poetry Foundation: Poetry Foundation (publisher of Poetry magazine) runs a broader literary arts mission spanning publishing, education and events. Comparable on poetry ecosystem leadership, education programming, and published-book format, though broader and US-anchored.
- Poetry Out Loud: Poetry Out Loud is a US national recitation competition for high school students administered by the National Endowment for the Arts. Comparable on national-school poetry competition format and government-funded arts education model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Word Travels social profiles
Digital presenceWord Travels financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Word Travels leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Word Travels funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Word Travels M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Word Travels
What does Word Travels do?
Word Travels is an Australian not-for-profit cultural organisation that produces nationwide spoken word poetry events and programs, including the Australian Poetry Slam competition (60+ heats across Australia culminating in a National Final at the Sydney Opera House), the annual Story Week festival, APS Youth, the Multilingual Poetry Slam, school-based spoken word education workshops, and published books on spoken word. The organisation operates from Darlinghurst, NSW and partners with libraries, schools, councils, prisons, and government bodies to deliver performing writer programs in communities across Australia.
Is Word Travels a public or private company?
Word Travels is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Word Travels founded?
Word Travels was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Word Travels based?
Word Travels is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Word Travels make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are private Donations, ticket Sales and book Sales.
Who are Word Travels's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Get Lit - Words Ignite, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The Moth, Australian Poetry and Red Room Poetry. Broad incumbents are National Storytelling Network, Poetry Foundation and Poetry Out Loud.
Does Word Travels have an API?
No public API is recorded for Word Travels.
What industry is Word Travels in?
Word Travels's product category is Performing Arts Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGACAF, Spoken-Word Poetry Slams, with a secondary code of MPAGACAG, Storytelling Events (Moth-style, Live Narratives). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.