Barbara Fant

Barbara Fant holds an MFA from Antioch University Los Angeles and a Master of Theology from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. The author of several chapbooks and the co-author of two stage productions, her first poetry collection was Paint, Inside Out (Penmanship Books, 2010). She was awarded the Cora Craig Award for Young Authors, and has been commissioned by over ten national organizations.

She has represented Columbus, Ohio in nine National Poetry Slam competitions and placed eighth out of ninety-six poets in the 2017 Women of the World Poetry Slam. Fant is the recipient of residencies from Idyllwild Arts and Connect Arts. Installations of her work can be found in the Columbus Museum of Art and The Columbus Foundation. A TEDx speaker, Columbus Makes Art Campaign artist, and a 2017 Columbus Alive People to Watch, Fant is the founder of Bloom Barb Fant, LLC. She teaches poetry in correctional institutions and schools, is the Artistic Director for Harmony Project, a teaching artist at Transit Arts, and co-curator of the reading series Paging Columbus.