Poetry Foundation Announces Winter/Spring 2021 Programming

CHICAGO, January 8, 2021—The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine and the home for poetry in Chicago, announces its winter and spring programming. While the Poetry Foundation building in downtown Chicago remains closed to the public for the safety and well-being of its staff and patrons, its free virtual offerings—including readings, book clubs, and resources—are expanding.

Poetry Events Accessible from Anywhere
The Poetry Foundation’s virtual events continue, bringing poetry to audiences everywhere. The season kicks off with the first Open Door Reading of 2021, which features author of One Day We Become Whites, Chia-Lun Chang, Chicago’s first Youth Poet Laureate, E’mon Lauren, Emily Brandt, and Nilah Foster on January 12. The Open Door series is all about hometown pride, presenting work from new and emerging poets, and highlighting writing instruction and poetic partnerships. Each event features readings by two Chicagoland writers and two of their current or recent students or writing partners. Other readers for the season include dancing girl press & studio founder Kristy Bowen, Lambda Literary Award for Trans Poetry winner Xandria Phillips, and Sexton Prize in Poetry winner Faisal Mohyuddin.

The celebration of Chicago’s poetry communities continues with the Drinking Gourd Chapbook Launch on January 27, in honor of Darrel Alejandro Holnes and his winning chapbook Migrant Psalms.  In February, the Poetry Foundation partners with Prison + Neighborhood Arts/Education Project (PNAP) for a reading and panel discussion centering on poetry and pedagogy in prisons. LYNX’s Amplify Series takes the virtual stage with a concert of art songs inspired by the writing of young people with autism, followed by a virtual Q&A on May 21.

Those aiming to read and write more poetry in the new year can sign up for several programs offered by the Poetry Foundation Library. The Library offers monthly book clubs, starting in January with Joy Priest’s Horsepower, and will send copies of the collections to participants in the United States. Continuing as well is the long running Forms & Features writing workshop series, and occasional readings by participants of their work.


Youth-Focused Library Programming
The Poetry Foundation Library offers existing and reimagined virtual programs in 2021, with a focus on younger poetry fans. On February 13, Jillian Tamaki, the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book They Say Blue, leads a Reading for Young People just in time for Valentine’s Day. Poetry Explorers, the live program launched in 2020 that teaches families to use the power of poetry and imagination to explore the world from home, lives on the Foundation website as pre-recorded videos that can be accessed by educators and guardians anytime. Young People’s Poetry Day, the annual event for youth and their caregivers, returns in April for National Poetry Month, in addition to an April 24 Reading for Young People with Kwame Alexander, the New York Times bestselling author of 21 books.

Teens can get in on the verse with the virtual Teen Poetry Labs running after standard school hours; sessions for grades 6–8 run in January, and those for grades 9–12 throughout February. Participants will receive guidance in the creation of their own work, and will develop their ideal vision for the future of the poetry world.

The Poetry Foundation's events are completely free of charge and open to the public. If you require any accessibility measures not mentioned in the event listing, please contact [email protected].

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

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, Senior Media Associate, [email protected], 312.799.8065
Sarah Whitcher, Marketing and Media Director, [email protected], 312.799.8016