The Poetry Project

Since 1966, The Poetry Project has expanded access to literature, education, and opportunities for sharing one’s creative work in a counter-hierarchical, radically open space and community. Premised on the vision that cultural action at the local level can inspire broader shifts in public consciousness, The Project is committed to developing and collaborating on replicable program models that challenge persistent social narratives, especially through the verbal reframing made possible in poetry. We do this work through a combination of live readings, performances, lectures, events, and workshops, in addition to literary and critical publications and emerging writers and curatorial fellowship programs. The Poetry Project is based at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, a vibrant artistic and community space which includes the St. Mark’s Church congregation, Danspace Project, and New York Theatre Ballet.

I think, in addition to being a home for poetry, part of what distinguishes us within the ecosystem of arts on the Lower East Side and also within our national and global context… is that the the Poetry Project is a very specifically community driven place. We’re thinking about how poetry and community mutually form and shape one another… How do we change the ways we listen to, recognize and work with one another through poetry? – Kyle Dacuyan

The Poetry Project hosts low-cost, sliding scale, and free poetry readings, lectures, and performances, as well as various workshops, master classes, and reading groups. The Poetry Project has four publications – The Poetry Project Newsletter, which includes poetry reviews, interviews, essays, and more; The Recluse, a literary magazine; House Party, a digital performance publication; Footnotes, a publication for work created in Poetry Project classes; and Dial-A-Poem, an audio recording publication. The Poetry Project hosts an annual New Year’s Day Reading Marathon that features the work of over 150 poets, artists, musicians, and performers. The Poetry Project offers two fellowships programs: one for emerging poets that pairs them with their own poet mentor, and one for emerging curators to host a series of events. The Poetry Project offers volunteer and internship opportunities.

For more information on programs and opportunities, visit their website.