Founded in late 1996 by poets Paul Nelson and Danika Dinsmore, SPLAB! existed as an intergenerational SPokenword Performance, Resource and Outreach Center until May 30, 2006. A new group to continue the local writer’s critique circle known as Living Room had its first meeting on June 6, 2006 as the Striped Water Poets, named in part after a Native term for a section of the Stuck River where the waters come together, known as Ilalqo. Gerald McBreen coordinates the group’s activities and can be reached at McBreenpost@aol.com.

SPLAB! now operates through this website and through the SPLAB! on the Road workshop troupe, performing Poetry Bout Demonstrations (Poetry Death Matches) combined with writing workshops accessible to writers of all levels of experience. A more advanced course is facilitated by Paul Nelson: Organic Poetry: Poem as Soul-Building Experience and is designed for the serious student of poetry based on the writing principles of William Carlos Williams, Charles Olson, Robert Duncan, Denise Levertov, Michael McClure, Anne Waldman and others.

July 27, 2007 marks the launch of the August Poetry Postcard Fest. Co-facilitated by poet Lana Ayers, this project perfectly illustrates the Splab interest in the intersection of an individual's poetry practice and the effort to use a collaborative poetry project to build community.