Programs Policy

The Poetry Foundation endeavors to connect people through programming that fosters community and belonging so that all participants can be moved by poetry.

The programs we offer include:

• Live events, available in-person, online, and in hybrid formats;

• Educational opportunities for educators and learners of all ages;

• Spaces for poets to engage with each other and their audiences;

• Library with a collection of more than 30,000 poetry volumes;

• Paid partnerships with cultural organizations.

We believe that each person’s poetry journey begins with an experience, and are guided by that belief and the Foundation’s mission when developing our programs, all of which are free and available to the public. Our programs provide avenues for audiences to engage with poetry that is diverse in content, style, form, and perspective. Poetry is a living art form, and we aim to bring people a living experience of it; one that extends beyond the page and through any barriers that might otherwise keep them from it.

Our programs are primarily curated by Foundation staff. When creating these programs, we consider how our work can be in conversation with emergent themes in our society, interrogate poetic legacies, align with other areas of the Foundation’s initiatives, and celebrate the work of artists and communities previously underrepresented on our stages—including, but not limited to, BIPOC, disabled, queer, trans, and undocumented people.

We invite audiences and artists alike to our spaces with the understanding that:

• We affirm artists’ freedom of expression; the Foundation does not censor artists or dictate the topics they might discuss while writing for, recording with, or performing at the Foundation;

• We are committed to being an antiracist organization and, therefore, do not tolerate hate speech;

• We are dedicated to accessibility in all forms;

• We prioritize invitations to Chicago and Midwestern artists as a commitment to our city and our region;

• We value creative collaboration, and operate from a place of mutual respect.

This policy is a living document that evolves and sharpens in focus as we do this work. We welcome the opportunity to learn about your work. If you would like to propose a program, partnership, or event for consideration, please contact us.

Learn More About Our Programs

• Educational Opportunities & Resources

  • Poetry Foundation Library

  • Poetry Out Loud

  • Summer Poetry Teachers Institute

• Public Events and Partnerships

• VS the Podcast