NYC PoFest strives to create a poetry wonderland every year on Governors Island. Now in its fourteenth year, NYC PoFest takes its next bold step forward with Poetopia—a living, breathing, poetic utopia, built by collective imagination and radical creativity.

At Poetopia, words do not merely describe the world—they disrupt, transform, and rebuild it. Poetry is not just an artifact of the past, but a living force shaping the future. More than a festival—Poetopia is a movement, a dream in motion, a space where hierarchy dissolves, imagination reigns, and poetry becomes practice.

To bring Poetopia to life, we are seeking immersive art installations that transform the festival grounds into an interactive, participatory wonderland of poetry, performance, and visual storytelling.

Poetopia’s Core Principles:

  • Poetry as Liberation – We wield words and art to challenge oppression, break silence, and give voice to the unseen and unheard.

  • Radical Inclusivity – Poetry belongs to all! We honor the voices of every race, gender, ability, and background, ensuring Poetopia is a space of true belonging.

  • Collective Imagination – Utopias are built together! We cultivate collaborative creativity, forging poems, performances, and discussions that spark transformation.

  • The Commons of Language & Art – Poetry and art are not commodities, but shared, infinite resources, creating spaces of exchange, movement, and dialogue.

  • Embodied Resistance & Joy – We reject the notion that revolution is only struggle—joy is its own form of defiance. Through art, we celebrate, disrupt, and reimagine!

  • Sustainability & Reciprocity – Our creations must nurture, not deplete. We commit to ethical, ecological, and regenerative practices in all aspects of Poetopia.

  • Poetry Beyond the Page – Poetry lives in the body, the voice, the street, the city, the sky. Poetopia invites installations that push poetry beyond traditional forms, into sculptural, interactive, and performative experiences.

NYC PoFest Installation Proposals Must…

  • Align with NYC PoFest's Sustainability Pledge (scroll down in the About section)

  • Follow PSNY's Code of Conduct

  • Fit within a 10 ft by 10 ft space (approximate)

  • Be able to be installed in the heat of July (set up on the Friday before NYC PoFest & taken down on the Monday after)

  • Be budget-friendly (we are an arts non-profit)

  • Be adaptable to weather conditions

  • Be mindful of the history of violence & colonization on Governors Island (see our Official Land Acknowledgement in the About section for more info)

What We’re Looking For:

We are seeking art installations that transform Poetopia into an interactive, poetic realm where visitors don’t just observe—they experience, engage, and co-create. Your installation can be:

  • Sculptural structures

  • Interactive installations

  • Performance art

  • Dance pieces

Bonus Points If Your Installation…

  • Engages with poetry and/or the landscape of New York

  • Encourages audience participation (think: typewriter poetry stations, communal mural projects, collaborative storytelling)

  • Is ongoing and accessible throughout the festival (not just at specific times)

For Inspiration, Here Are Installations We've Loved in the Past: