The Poe Jam is an open mic night held every other Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. on the second floor of the Burlington City Arts (BCA) center.Local visual artist and songwriter Dug Nap hosts the jam.Everything from spoken word poetry to music is fair game for those willing to step up to the mic. People with all levels of performing experience have the opportunity to perform at the jam.Nap makes sure to promote a positive and inclusive atmosphere.I try to be really supportive of people trying [new] things, Nap said. I get a kick out of trying to encourage people to try some extemporaneous stuff.The Poe Jam came into existence because of Naps involvement in the arts.When the open mic night that Nap used to attend closed down, he didnt want the tradition to end.Nap was able to use his connections as an artist to work with the BCA center to organize the Poe Jam.Twenty or so chairs, a desk and a microphone is all that is needed for the jam to take place.Attendance varies from 10 to 45 people depending on the night, and UVM students often make appearances.First-year Dana Klasky said that she came to Poe Jam after a poster in the Davis Center piqued her curiosity.Unlike many other open mic nights that are held in bars, Poe Jams location in the BCA center gives it a sense of artistic intimacy, making it a truly unique nook for all things music and poetry.