Happy Poetry Month, friends! I’m going to do my best to amplify a variety of happenings this month, some in honor of this nationwide celebration, some regularly scheduled poetry happenings. Please share your news and poetry opportunities with me so I can spread the word (email below). And stay tuned!
Write Poetry in Community
In my first issue, I linked to a few SC Public Libraries poetry month events. More on one of these: Beginning on Monday, April 10th (4-5:30), the Santa Cruz Poetry Project will be offering a new weekly poetry workshop for “anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.” The workshops are held in the Life Literacies Center at the downtown Santa Cruz library. If you can’t go on 4/10, you can go any Monday!
Co-founded by Ellen Bass and Nancy Miller Gomez, The Santa Cruz Poetry Project, which is offering these new workshops, brings poetry to members of our community who would not otherwise have access. Through their Poetry in the Jails program, they have been offering poetry workshops to incarcerated women and men throughout Santa Cruz County since 2015.
I’m excited about what the Poetry Project is up to. You’ll be hearing more.
Celebrating Poetic Multilingualism
I get to participate in a fantastic collaboration—between the County Office of Education and high school poets—that began during the pandemic. The COE’s Language Ambassadors program (which celebrates multilingual speakers and students) has created the World Language Poetry Showcase “to explore the beautiful world of poetry.” Thursday, April 13, (5:30-7:30pm) the general public is invited to come to The World Language Poetry Showcase at the Harbor High School Multi-Purpose Room. Hear young people recite poems in multiple languages and view a poster session created by these young language ambassadors. I can’t wait.
Some Open Mic News
Here’s another Open Mic! Sponsored by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library, this one is virtual. From 6-8pm the first Wednesday of every month, join other writers to share work. Spaces are limited. Find out more and sign up here.
The Inter|Act Spoken Word Open Mic at Abbott Square has had some bad timing with weather, but they will be hosting their next event on Tuesday, April 11. Kimberley is great about keeping people apprised via email; ask to join her list at openmic@maginei.com
Poets Interested in Financial Support
You probably already know that the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County is committed to local artists. But in case you didn’t realize it, they are also committed to sharing regional and statewide opportunities to apply for funding. Here are three current calls.
FOR ARTISTS:
Individual Artists Fellowship: The @calartscouncil Individual Artists Fellowship grant program for the Central Coast Region provides unrestricted funding and state-wide recognition to uplift individual artists.
Awards available for Emerging, Established, and Legacy artists ($5,000; $10,000; and $50,000, respectively)
Application Deadline: May 5
FOR ARTISTS & SMALL GROUPS:
Micro-grants available from the brand new Santa Cruz County Awesome Foundation chapter:
$1,000 no-strings-attached grants
The first micro-grant will be chosen in April
Proposals due the last day of every month.
FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS WORKERS:
Apply for a Cali Catalyst grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation: unrestricted grants of up to $7,500 are available to California change makers, artists, arts workers, culture workers, and arts leaders whose bold actions are shifting the arts and culture sector in ways that tangibly give underrepresented populations more power and influence.
Informational Webinar: April 5 at 12pm, register here
Round 1 Application Deadline: May 3 at 12pm
You can stay informed about Grants & Funding opportunities by signing up for the Arts Council’s Grants newsletter (among others) at the bottom of this page.
Clearly, folks, there is always more to say. Thanks for being part of this lively poetry community in our county. Email me at poetlaureate@santacruzpl.org
A Short Poem for Poetry Month—by Victoria Chang
