Featured Artists
The Poetry Brothel
Darlings, step into the enchanting world of The Poetry Brothel, an immersive literary cabaret inspired by the turn-of-the-century brothels in New Orleans, Paris, and Buenos Aires. These historic brothels were safe havens for fringe and avant-garde artists, and we're thrilled to bring that spirit of experimentation and performance to PoFest.
The Poetry Brothel presents a rotating cast of poets, each performing within a carefully crafted character. Enjoy public readings, spontaneous eruptions of poetry, and most distinctly, intimate one-on-one poetry readings. This year, we will have our own space with a tent for private readings and a platform for public performances. Expect lively processions, interactive engagements with passersby, and captivating typewriter poetry.
Schedule:
Saturday, July 13th, 2024
12:00-12:30 PM:
Madam Tallula, Britt Cannon, Allegra Parks, Monah Mayhem, January Blue
1:30-2:00 PM:
Madam Betty Boom, Monah Mayhem, Allegra Parks, Jezmina Von Thiele
4:00-4:30 PM:
Madam Betty Boom, Velvet Envy, Bread Pussy, Jezmina Von Thiele
5:00-5:30 PM:
Madam Tallula, Britt Cannon, Monah Mayhem, Jezmina Von Thiele
Sunday, July 14th, 2024
12:00-12:30 PM:
Madam Tallula, Jezmina Von Thiele, Monah Mayhem, Allegra Parks
1:30-2:00 PM:
Madam Betty Boom, Hortensia Celeste, The Countess of Castlemaine, Persephone James, Jezmina Von Thiele
4:00-4:30 PM:
Madam Tallula, Velvet Envy, Bread Pussy, Jezmina Von Thiele
5:00-5:30 PM:
Madam Betty Boom, Bread Pussy, Monah Mayhem, Jezmina Von Thiele
Let’s come together in this playful, encouraging, and wondrous celebration of poetry. We at The Poetry Society of New York can’t wait to see you there, darlings! Embrace the spirit of joyful abandon and dive into the awe-inspiring world of The Poetry Brothel at NYC PoFest.
Poetry Camp
Welcome to the NYC Poetry Festival's Poetry Camp Activation, where the spirit of summer camp meets the enchantment of poetry in paradise! Here, you'll find a playful and relaxed atmosphere designed to ignite your imagination and bring out the poet in everyone.
Camp Amenities/Board Games Available:
Poetry for Neanderthals
Scrabble
Boggle
Bananagrams
Wordle
Scattergories
Camp Rules
Time Limit: Each game can be borrowed for a maximum of 60 minutes, so everyone gets a chance to play in our poetry camp.
Respect the Games: No stealing or damaging the games – keep our camp clean and fun for all.
Stay Within the Area: All game pieces must remain within the designated camp tents.
Join the Full Poetry Camp Experience
Feeling inspired? This Poetry Camp Activation is just a taste of the magic that awaits at our full Poetry Camp. We know that living in modern society is difficult, and everybody sooner or later wants to pull a Thoreau: escape commercialism, go into a dense forest, and write. Embrace your inner transcendentalist and come to Poetry Camp, PSNY’s very own summer camp and annual writing retreat run by a wild lot of poets!
Poetry Camp encourages all attendees—whether they are poets, poetry-lovers, or even poets-to-be—to cultivate their sense of childlike wonder. It is first and foremost a writing retreat (with free time to write allotted). Those wishing to delve deeply into their craft can attend Seminars and intimate Small Group Workshops with some of the world’s most iconic poets.
If you’re not a poet, have no fear! This five-day, four-night retreat (August 14th to 18th, 2024) only 90 miles from Manhattan will feature fun for everyone! Each day will be packed to the brim with opt-in activities. Families can bond over Arts and Crafts, including paper, button, cyanotype bookmark, and broadside making. Old and new friends can compete during our daily Cabin Clashes. Poetry Camp prioritizes belonging and community, and at the end of each day, everyone will come together for a Salon, homemade dinner, and a campfire.
Join us in this poetic exchange and become a part of a legacy that celebrates the power of words to uplift and connect. Let’s create a tapestry of hope, courage, and creativity together. Embrace the spirit of joyful abandon and discover the awe-inspiring world of Poetry Camp!
Milk Press Installation
Welcome to the Milk Press installation at NYC PoFest! Discover the innovative spirit of Milk Press, the editorial arm of The Poetry Society of New York. We blend poetry with visual and digital art, creating multidisciplinary, collaborative works that celebrate diverse voices and unique approaches to poetry.
At PoFest, explore our interactive installation—a tent adorned with fishing netting—where creativity knows no bounds. Contribute to our collective poetic masterpiece by writing a line for our exquisite corpse poem or drawing on tags and hanging them on the netting. Engage with our vibrant community of poets and artists, learn about our unique publication approach, and get a sneak peek at our upcoming issue.
Join us on Poetry Island, leave your mark, and be part of something extraordinary with Milk Press. Celebrate the fusion of poetry and art in an immersive, collaborative experience.
Having a Coke with You Installation
Hey poets and poetry lovers!
Step into the world of "Having a Coke with You" at NYC PoFest, an installation inspired by the delightful PSNY podcast sponsored by Radio Drama Network. This season is all about destigmatizing poetry, and we invite you to join the conversation!
Hosted by the charming and relatable Tova Greene—poetry nerd, dad joke advocate, and your hilarious guide—Season 2 (upcoming) will bring you candid chats with some of the best poets of our time. Tova will get real with hard-hitting questions like “Have you ever burned toast and set off your apartment’s fire alarm?” and “Have you seen the latest episode of Vanderpump Rules?” And just when you think it’s all fun and games, they’ll sneak in some poetry magic.
At our "Having a Coke with You" installation, you can get to know fellow poets and have a coke with them through engaging prompts and conversations. Sit down, relax, and feel the warmth of genuine connections as you discuss everything from poetry and writing to everyday life. It’s like tricking a kid into eating their vegetables—before you know it, you’ll be head over heels for poetry.
Whether you were taught to hate poetry in school or you’re already a poetry lover, this podcast and installation are for you. Join us on Poetry Island, laugh, cry, and maybe even consider applying for an MFA. After 45 minutes of poets talking poetry, we hope you’ll love poetry a little more than you did before.
Come share a coke, meet new friends, and fall in love with poetry all over again at the "Having a Coke with You" installation!
Letters to a Young Poet
Darlings, welcome to "Letters to a Young Poet," a beautifully poetic experience at the New York City Poetry Festival, in collaboration with Music Before 1800. Here, we're bridging the timeless wisdom of Rainer Maria Rilke with the vibrant creativity of today’s poets. Embrace this opportunity to connect, inspire, and be inspired.
Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s letters to the young poet Franz Kappus, where he urged him to "not be frightened" when faced with sorrow, we invite you to write your own short letter to a young poet who might need a sprinkle of courage. What words of wisdom would you offer to someone navigating the fears and challenges of pursuing their art? Share your inspiration and encouragement, and in turn, take a message of hope with you.
How It Works
Write a Letter: Pick up a postcard and pen your thoughts to a young poet. Reflect on what you needed to hear when you started your artistic journey, what you need to hear now, or any encouraging words that come to mind.
Leave a Postcard: Peg your postcard on the suspended string or fishing wire, adding your voice to the collective wisdom and encouragement of the festival.
Take a Postcard: Choose a postcard written by a fellow attendee that resonates with you. Walk away with a piece of shared inspiration and a memento that includes details of our upcoming event on December 15th.
By participating, you’re not just sharing your words—you’re fostering a spirit of connection and inspiration, embodying the essence of PoFest and Music Before 1800. This is your chance to pay forward the gift of encouragement and carry a stranger's words with you as a reminder of our creative community.
Mark Your Calendar
At the start of the twentieth century, the aspiring 'young poet' Franz Kappus wrote to Rainer Maria Rilke, sparking a series of beautifully poetic correspondences. A century later, Rilke’s letters to Kappus have only recently been found and translated for the first time, becoming powerfully influential to a new generation of writers and artists.
Over the coming months, The Poetry Society of New York will be sharing the stories behind how the letters between Rilke and Kappus continue to inspire us all today, in partnership with Music Before 1800. On December 15th, Music Before 1800 is premiering this incredible story of poetry and shared inspiration in a new concert-theatre work titled "Letters to a Young Poet."
So stay tuned, darlings, we at The Poetry Society of New York are so excited to help the story of Rilke and Kappus come to life in beautiful new ways! In the meantime, tickets are available below for the concert-theatre US premiere of "Letters to a Young Poet" on December 15th—you won’t want to miss it!
Join us in this poetic exchange and become a part of a legacy that celebrates the power of words to uplift and connect. Let’s create a tapestry of hope, courage, and creativity together. Embrace the spirit of joyful abandon and discover the awe-inspiring world of poetry!
Homespun Merry-Go-Round
Homespun Merry-Go-Round
This quote from Vice pretty much sums it up:
"...a nice man named Al Gori... about 20 years ago, made a merry-go-round from scratch as an art school project. He used car parts, old motors, stuffed animals, gadgets, gizmos, and various knick-knackery, and over years of tinkering, created the most charming and unique little jungle-themed solar-powered merry-go-round that ever was. It is, in fact, a merry-go-round with soul."