Palm Beach Poetry contest returning to Old School Square
August 26th, 2008
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The fifth annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival will return to Old School Square in Delray Beach for six days, Jan. 19-24.
“Nine of America’s most gifted poets will be in Delray Beach to teach six advanced and two intermediate poetry workshops, once again offering a great learning opportunity to local poets,” said director Miles Coon.
In addition to serving the writing community, the event will also offer numerous opportunities for the public to hear poetry read by poets. “They are a diverse group, ethnically, demographically and aesthetically.
The advanced poetry workshops will feature Martin Espada, Kimiko Hahn, Laura Kasischke, Thomas Lux, Ann Marie Macari and Gerald Stern and Gregory Orr.
Two intermediate poetry workshops will be offered by Denise Duhamel and Victoria Redel.
A Florida Poets Reading will be held Jan. 22, and a poetry performance will be held late on Saturday, Jan. 24, featuring Taylor Mali.
There will also be a high school poetry contest open to Palm Beach County public and private high school students. It will be judged by Dr. Jeff Morgan, professor of English at Lynn University. Dr. Blaise Allen, contest coordinator, will visit numerous high schools to encourage students to participate.
In addition to cash prizes and an opportunity to read poems at the awards presentation ceremony just before the Florida Poets Reading in the Crest Theatre, the winner and four runners-up will receive free tickets to festival events. All prize winning poems will be published on the festival website. Entries must be submitted by Dec. 1.
There wil also be Poetry at the Morikami Kimiko Hahn will be featured. Her work combines ancient Japanese forms with contemporary American diction to create a Japanese-American aesthetic. Scott Cunningham will talk about some of these poems and then give participants an opportunity to create their own.
For a complete list of the public events, refer to http://www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org/.
Tickets will go on sale Oct. 15. at the Crest Theatre Box Office at Old School Square. General Admission ticket prices per event are $12/adult, $10/senior and $8/student. Special student group rates are available.
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