POETRY & SPOKEN WORD EVENTS
Free & Open to the Public
Saturday, April 22, 12pm-8pm
For more information contact: Poughetryfest@gmail.com
2 Locations
Cunneen-Hackett Theatre , 12 Vassar Street, Poughkeepsie, NY
Reason & Ruckus, 305 Main Street
PoughETRY Fest 2023, celebrating its 6th year, will be held Saturday, April 22nd, 12 pm to 8 pm, as an in-person event at the Cunneen-Hackett Theatre (12 Vassar St. Poughkeepsie, NY) and at Reason & Ruckus (305 Main Street) located in the heart of Poughkeepsie on Main Street. Curated and created by the 2017 & 2018 Dutchess County Poet Laureate – Poet Gold, PoughETRY Fest is a one-day festival, free, and open to the public highlighting the art of poetry both written and spoken, as well as poets of the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Spelled, P-o-u-g-h-E-T-R-Y, to signify where the Poet Gold resides, Poughkeepsie, NY in the Mid-Hudson Valley, PoughETRY Fest 2023, proclamation by the former Mayor of Poughkeepsie and now Senator – Rob Rolison, is where visitors experience the spirit and diverse voices reflected in today’s poetry.
2023 EVENT SCHEDULE
@ Cunneen-Hackett Theatre , 12 Vassar Street, Poughkeepsie, NY
Youth Open Mic and Workshop
12 – 2 pm
Hosted by Daniel Villegas, Teaching Artist/Performer.
Open to youth of all ages, giving students the opportunity to relate to poetry that is relevant to them allowing exploration of the craft through combining words and beatboxing and to discover contemporary poetry in a meaningful way.
Co-hosted by Miguel Sanchez aka “Lito Koqui,” Poughkeepsie local poet and hip-hop artist.
1 – 2:15 pm
Self-Publishing with Myael Christopher Simpkins
Myael Christopher Simpkins, CEO of Transcendental Expressions
Are you thinking about publishing your own body of work? Learn about the self-publishing process – How to get started; The stages of publication; The cost factors; The role of the self-publishing team. Myael Christopher Simpkins is known as the Renaissance Artist of Dutchess County. Myael is the author of 4 published books: Emancerian Chronicles: Signs of the First Emancer, The Poetic Stylings of Myael Simpkins, Emancerian Chronicles: Why We Fear the Shadows, and A Charcoal Pencil and Graphic Art Portfolio.
2:30 – 3:45pm
Film Premiere and Director Q&A
“Blueprint For My People” directed by Carol Bash award-winning documentary film maker. Blueprint For My People, a short film that illuminates the African-American experience by lyrically weaving spoken-word narration of Margaret Walker’s epic poem, “For My People” with contemporary images and rare 19th century cyanotypes (blue photographic prints known as ‘blueprints’). Features the voices of award-winning spoken word artists, Poet Gold, and Richard “Braf” Braithwaite. Opening film “Say Theirs Names” directed by Paul Thompson, co-directed by Poet Gold, produced by Suprina and Poet Gold Featuring “Sounds of Heritage”
4 – 5:45pm
LGBTQ Open Mic featuring Pamela Sneed
Hosted by Jay “Jay Bird” Herman.
Jay Bird brings their dedication for love and justice together through poetry and the spoken word. They have hosted the PoughETRY Fest LGBTQ Open Mic since its inception.
Pamela Sneed is the author of Sweet Dreams and Funeral Diva which was featured in The New York Times and won the 2021 Lambda Lesbian Poetry Award. She is the recipient of a 2023 Creative Capital grant in literature.
@ REASON & RUCKUS, (305 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY)
6 – 8 pm
Calling All Poets (CAPS) Open Mic
Calling All Poets (CAPS) Open Mic (a 501c3 poetry org) is designed to give emerging poets the opportunity to share their work in a public forum.
Featuring newly appointed 2023 Dutchess County Poet Laureate, Stephanie JT Russell
PoughETRY FEST2023 Schedule (PDF 3MB)
PoughETRY Fest Sponsorship
PoughETRY Fest “Key Sponsor” — $1,000
- Recognition and static presence on our website.
- 10 social media platform posts
- Part of our social media promotion on Facebook and lnstagram for 1 year.
PoughETRY Fest “Youth Open Mic” Sponsor –$500
- Recognition and static presence on our website.
- 5 social media platform posts
- Part of our social media promotion on Facebook and lnstagram for 1 year.
PoughETRY Fest “6th Year” Sponsor –Give as you wish
- Your name listed on our website and social media platforms as a sponsor.
- Special dedication and thank you to all of our6th Year Sponsors.
How do I give my tax deductible gift?
Make checks payable to:
Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 9 Vassar Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Memo on check: PoughETRY Fest 2023
Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center is a 50lc3 organization.
Visit us at poughetryfest.com
Email us at poughetryfest@gmail.com