This event is part of national Poetry Coalition programming and is supported by the Academy of American Poets with funds from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
In a high stakes election year, we gather to combat despair and take action in the midst of it, to celebrate communities targeted by violence, to imagine what it means to thrive in the midst of struggle, and to be equipped as artists living at the center of public life and social change. Join us to invoke poetry for liberation and against repressive forces that would have us divided.
Every two years, Split This Rock Poetry Festival calls poets, writers, educators, activists, and scholars together for three days of readings, workshops, panel discussions, youth programming, open mics, and activism -- plus, a book fair! Featuring some of the most socially significant and artistically vibrant poets today, the Festival offers opportunities to speak boldly for justice, build connections and community, and celebrate the many ways poetry can be a practice for social change.
We're thrilled to announce the 2020 Festival Featured Poets: Cameron Awkward-Rich, Emmy Pérez, Eve L. Ewing, Justice Ameer, Kimberly Blaeser, Kyle Dargan, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Mahogany L. Browne, Marilyn Chin, Safia Elhillo, Sandra Cisneros, Trevino Brings Plenty, and the Youth Poets Laureate Azura Tyabji, Maren Wright Kerr, and Jackson Neal!
We are thrilled to announce that Festival daytime activities will be held in one venue for the first time ever! Workshops, panels, readings, and the book fair will be held at George Washington University's Cloyd Heck Marvin Center. The Marvin Center will also serve as the Festival hub, hosting on-site registration and check-in for pre-registered attendees. For more information, please visit the Festival Venues web page.