Grammy-nominated surrealist blues poet and this year’s Artist in Residence, aja monet, follows in the long legacy and tradition of poets participating and assembling in social movements.

Known for her fusion of poetry and music, Monet's work explores themes of Black resistance, love, and joy. Her debut album, When the Poems Do What They Do, released in 2023, received critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album in 2024.

As part of the residency, aja monet will run a series of workshops leading up to the Festival, including a live reading and Q&A session, and a workshop with the Barbican Young Poets, offering a unique opportunity for emerging voices to learn from her powerful, politically engaged practice. The residency will culminate in a special performance at the Barbican Hall on Friday, 14 November, as aja monet will curate a night with special guests, to open the EFG London Jazz Festival.