Press Release

Poetry Foundation Announces Virtual Offerings for Fall

Virtual events, community opportunities, and educational content

Originally Published: September 01, 2020

CHICAGO, September 1, 2020— The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, announces virtual programs this fall for participants in Chicago and beyond. The Poetry Foundation building in downtown Chicago is closed to the public for the remainder of 2020 to continue prioritizing the safety and well-being of our staff and patrons. In lieu of in-person events, free online programs and resources, including writing workshops and teaching guides, are available.

Virtual Events
The fall season begins with the 2020 Pegasus Awards, honoring Marilyn Chin and Saskia Hamilton in September. Later on, some of the rising stars in poetry read together on October 8 for Poetry Day: 2020 Ruth Lilly & Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellows. The new event series Reading for Young People features readings with renowned children’s authors beginning on October 17 with Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye, followed by Carson Ellis on October 31, and Nikki Grimes December 12. 

Local talent is front and center in the Open Door Reading Series, highlighting Chicago’s writing programs. Each event features readings by two Chicagoland writing program instructors—including Tara Betts, Maya Marshall, and Elizabeth Metzger Sampson—and two of their current or recent students.

These are only a selection of the varied programs that the Poetry Foundation offers this season, and new options will be added throughout fall. For the most up-to-date information, visit poetryfoundation.org/events and consider signing up for newsletters.

Library Providing Community Space
Drawing on the long history of libraries as spaces where communities can come together, the Poetry Foundation Library continues online adult education programs adopted in the spring. Monthly book clubs led by Library staff invite readers to discuss a volume of poetry, provided free of charge by the Foundation to all registered participants in the US. This season’s writers include Victoria Chang, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Abigail Chabitnoy, and Valzyhna Mort.

For those who want to learn new skills for writing poems of their own, the Library offers Forms & Features, led by library associate Maggie Queeney. Part discussion, part poetry workshop, this series explores concepts like concrete poetry, abecedarians, and process through close reading and creative writing exercises.

Literary learning is available to children as well, as the Library offers virtual field trips, and to support teachers, students, and parents through remote learning. The Library will also launch several new programs for children and teens this fall, including a weekly interactive program for children ages 5–12 and their families, and a weekly writing workshop for teens. Educators and guardians can contact the Library staff for more information and for assistance with lesson plans and writing prompts.

All of these programs have limited space and require prior registration. Please register for programs or send any research queries to the library staff at [email protected]

Online Treasure Trove
The Poetry Foundation website expands poetry’s audience beyond the page by providing a wide range of content that engages with the art form. The Webby-award-winning website offers articles, poetry collections, podcasts, the largest online archive of poems, and a full digital archive of Poetry magazine free to read. New content is added to the website regularly, including features on new poetry collections, poets blogging on a range of topics, articles for educators, and poetry for children.


VISUALS: Images available upon request.

About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs.

Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry on Facebook at facebook.com/poetryfoundation, Twitter @PoetryFound and @Poetrymagazine, and Instagram @PoetryFoundation.

Media Contacts:
Liz O’Connell-Thompson, Media Associate, [email protected], 312.799.8065
Sarah Whitcher, Marketing and Media Director, [email protected], 312.799.8016