Readings & Collaborations

A space for shared language, feeling and creative exchange

Preeti has shared her work at festivals, literary series and community events across Canada, including Indian Summer Festival, Surrey Muse Society, Sikh Heritage Month, Eden Mills Writers’ Festival, the Guelph Speakeasy Reading Series, 5X Festival, the 35th Annual Gulf Islands Poetry Festival, and more. Her readings have also supported fundraisers for survivors of domestic violence and numerous book launches. In addition to performing, Preeti has also moderated panels at law schools and literary events, and curated a reading series. She tailors each event to resonate with diverse audiences, from intimate gatherings to large public stages, and brings her training in Theatre of the Oppressed and performance to create experiences that are engaging, reflective and memorable.

Brown skinned woman facilitating poetry and arts workshop

Preeti also welcomes interdisciplinary collaborations. She has been commissioned to write ekphrastic poetry for gallery exhibits, themed pieces for special events, and loves collaborative projects that bridge performance, community and embodiment. Her approach is rooted in presence, connection, and relational creativity.

Customized Readings & Creative Collabs

Preeti is available for poetry and prose readings, panel discussions, and collaborative projects.

    • Solo or curated poetry readings (10–30 minutes)

    • Panel moderation or participation (45–90 minutes)

    • Interdisciplinary collaborations (visual art, theatre, music, community-based events)

    • Custom commissions (ekphrastic poetry, community celebrations, thematic projects)

    • Fundraisers or special events

    • Events tailored to your audience and space

    • Focus on voice, presence, and connection

    • Experience in both academic and community-based settings

    • Deep engagement with social justice, equity and loving perspectives

    • Lead time: 4–6 weeks for readings/panels, 2–3 months for larger collaborative projects

    • Technical needs: Minimal AV required for readings; Preeti will confirm details based on the project

    • Fees: Vary based on length, type, and scope of the event. Sliding scale or community-based rates may be available.

Contact Preeti

Some of Preeti’s Past Readings & Collabs

  • Book launch poster for 'I Am Connected' by Kung Jaadee, featuring a cover illustration with a tree, a crow, and a hummingbird on a blue background, and a woman smiling outdoors wearing a hat and red vest with jewelry.
  • A woman with short dark hair, wearing colorful earrings, seated near a white wall with a textured surface, looking to the right. A banner above her displays text about Upstart & Crow's 2025 Poet in Residence, Preeti Kaur Dhaliwal.
  • Woman speaking at a podium with a sign that reads 'Toronto International Festival of Authors'.
  • A woman with long dark hair and glasses speaking at a podium during a presentation at the Surrey Muse event, with a banner behind her that reads 'Surrey Muse' and 'An Interdisciplinary Art & Literature Presentation Group'.
  • Design for an artist roundtable event featuring geometric patterns, a central blue circle, and a background of plants and flowers, with details about date, July 9, and location, 221A 825 Pacific.
  • Black and white photo of a woman squatting on a beach at night, smiling and holding a cellphone, with graphic design elements and text reading 'Indian Summer Festival' on the left side.
  • Event poster with geometric background patterns, featuring a photo of a woman holding a sign that says 'E 49th Ave 100' in front of a logo that reads 'Punjab Market'. The poster includes the name 'Rishta', a date 'July 13', and the location 'Punjabi Market Plaza'.
  • Preeti Kaur Dhaliwal, performing / reading at Indian Summer Festival
  • Event poster for Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts, featuring a workshop titled "WED" on August 14, 2024, about lens and legacy storytelling through photos, with a background graphic of a woman squatting on the ground.
  • Event poster for a writing workshop titled "Rediscovering the Sacred through Writing" featuring Preeti Kaur Dhaliwal, scheduled for Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7 PM ET, in partnership with Strathmore, hosted by Community Building Art Works.
  • Promotional poster for Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts, featuring a grayscale image of a woman with long dark hair and earrings, with pink abstract flower shapes in the background. The text promotes a workshop on August 10, 2022, about finding oneself during transition, led by Preeti Dhaliwal.
  • A promotional poster for an event titled "An Evening with Robyn Sandhu" scheduled on June 14, 2023, at 6 PM at The Beaumont Studios, featuring three photos of women and one of a man, with event details and logo of 5 Fest.
  • A woman stands in a bookstore or library, reading aloud into a microphone while holding a paper. She wears glasses, large earrings, a scarf, and casual clothing. Behind her are wooden bookshelves filled with books and decorative items, with a green wall and a ceiling with wooden panels.
  • A poster for an event presented by Optical Collusion featuring a black background with a floral design in a cup and saucer, a tea pot pouring tea, and event details including date, time, location, cover charge, guest performers, and musical guest.

Testimonials

  • A man with glasses, dark curly hair, and a beard smiling, wearing a white shirt and brown blazer, in a warmly lit indoor setting.

    "Preeti is a multi-talented, interdisciplinary artist who is intelligent, fierce and committed to artistic experimentation with a deeply, committed social ethos. She is always a joy to be around and is gifted at creating truly inclusive spaces."

    — Am Johal, Executive Artistic Director, Indian Summer Festival

  • A woman wearing glasses, a straw hat with a plush toy on top, and a white and blue jacket, smiling outdoors near a large tree.

    "Preeti was a dream to be facilitating my book launch! She made it look easy to keep the momentum progressing all night. I couldn’t have been as calm without her gentle presence. Thank you, Chen kwanmantumi, Hychgaa, U Siyam."

    — My Haida name is Kung Jaadee; Moon Woman is what it means. I’m Squamish, Musqueam, Tseilwatuth, Haida, Tlingit and part Hawaiian. I’m a traditional storyteller (32 years)

  • Ruby Singh commenting on Preeti Kaur Dhaliwal's poetry

    “Preeti’s words open a sky inside of us and invite us into worlds of possibility. Her command of stage and audience anchor us while navigating the brave world of her poetry.”

    - Ruby Singh, award-winning Artist, Curator & Educator

  • A woman standing next to a bookshelf filled with books, smiling, wearing a dark blue shirt, near a window with light-colored curtains.

    "The way Preeti's writing captures intersections between macro and micro events is breathtaking. Her writing flows, seemingly effortless, filled with feeling and perfect sentences."

    - Kyo Maclear, award winning author of Birds Art Life and Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man with dreadlocks and a full beard, facing the camera, against a plain background.

    "Preeti is a generous thinker and gracious in her willingness to share time and ideas in a reciprocally nourishing way. What showed up in our public dialogue, as in much of Preeti's written work, is how her intellectual curiosity so often leads us back to considerations of love, and how it might be better understood and practiced."

    — Brandon Wint, poet, filmmaker, event producer (Photo by Que Frias)

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Preeti’s readings and panels fit literary, academic, arts and community spaces. She primarily reads in English but occasionally (with enough prep time and practice) shares poems written by South Asian writers in Punjabi. Her experience ranges from intimate salons of 10-20 people to festival stages with hundreds of audience members. She also loves online readings and events, and appreciates when folks are open to collaborating on health, safety and accessibility.

  • Readings typically run 8–20 minutes; panels 45–90 minutes. Collaborative projects vary based on scope.

  • Absolutely! Preeti enjoys curating readings and projects to fit themes, anniversaries or interdisciplinary projects.

  • A basic AV setup (mic and speaker) is helpful. Outdoor spaces or spaces with decent air flow are preferred. For collaborative or commissioned work, please reach out for a conversation to discuss space, time and creative needs are aligned.

  • Ideally 6–8 weeks for readings or panels, and 3–6 months for larger projects or commissioned pieces. The more notice, the better; but, if you need her sooner, just reach out and see if she’s available :).

  • Preeti’s sessions are structured with clear pacing, optional participation and a supportive, inclusive atmosphere. Lots of folks who identify as autistic/being on the spectrum and who have ADHD attend her workshops and comment specifically on how comfortable they feel with the design, pacing and her trauma-informed approach.

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