AMANDA SHEA is the 2022 Spoken Word Artist of the Year. Shea is an artist, performer, educator, activist, publicist, host, and curator. She has hosted numerous poetry events, including BAMSFest (Boston Art & Music Soul Festival), She co-founded and curated five iterations of Activating ARTivism, a community festival to amplify POC through art, activism, and resistance. In 2021, she was named one of WBUR The ARTery's 25 artists of color: transforming the cultural landscape. Shea was a featured artist for 2022 Thought Artist for SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Her work can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, The Boston Globe, Netflix, Prime Video, and much more. Shea will be releasing her first book, “Pieces of Shea” in the Fall of 2023.