This year, Poetry Downtown proudly honors the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe with a four-city celebration. The festivities will take place in Boston on September 27, New York and Philadelphia on September 28, and Baltimore on September 29. In Philadelphia, four events will be organized, with the most important being Poetry Downtown Philadelphia, held at the Philadelphia Ethical Society at Rittenhouse Square.
Poetry Downtown
Each year, Poetry Downtown invites the finest poets to participate in its festival. This year, the festival’s jury will select 13 emerging poets to read in each city. The 52 selected poets will also be published in the annual Poetry Downtown anthology. To be considered for selection, poets must submit a poem inspired by “The Raven” by September 1, as the festival celebrates the 175th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s death on October 7, 1849.
Philadelphia Ethical Society
In each city, we seek unique locations. In Boston, we will read at the Long Wharf Pavilion, in Baltimore, we will read at Protean Books, in New York in front of the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage, and in Philadelphia the poets will read at the Philadelphia Ethical Society at Rittenhouse Square. The Philadelphia Ethical Society is a humanist community dedicated to ethical living and social justice. Its location on Rittenhouse Square places it at the heart of Philadelphia’s cultural and social life, making it an accessible and prominent landmark for both members and visitors. The park is one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn and his surveyor Thomas Holme during the late 17th century.
Jury
Each year, Poetry Downtown strives to enlist the most esteemed jury members for the festival. This year’s panel includes:
– Erik van Loon: Dutch artist and founder of the Poetry Downtown Festival
– Chris Semtner: Curator of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, author and artist
– G.H. Mosson: Poet with with multiple nominations and prestigious journal publications
All events in Philadelphia
September 28
7.00-8.00 pm Lecture Edgar Allan Poe in Popular Culture
See above
8.00-10.00 pm Poetry Downtown Philadelphia Readings
see above
10.00-11.00 pm PATCH
Each day concludes with PATCH (Poetry and Tales Cocktail Hour). At PATCH we also host the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown.
September 29
8.00-12.00 am Poetry Cycle Philadelphia
Join us for a bicyel tour along the most important Edgar Allan Poe sites in Philadelphia.
* all events are free
Boston – New York – Philadelphia – Baltimore
As mentioned earlier, the 4th Poetry Downtown Festival will take place in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. This year’s festival promises a rich array of events and culinary delights, including 12 distinct dishes, four poetry readings, four lectures, three poetry cycles, three PATCH, one talk show, and one radio play. Poets will journey on the Poetry Train, traveling between cities and towns across eight states from Boston to Baltimore. This unique and affordable experience offers poets the chance to network and collaborate, connecting poets in twenty different cities and towns.
Poetry Train
Erik van Loon envisions leasing a dedicated Poetry Train by 2025, equipped with restaurant, sleeper, disco, bar, and library cars. This year, he aims to welcome 40 poets aboard the Poetry Train, further expanding this unique festival. Support Erik’s American dream and help unite the country through the power of poetry. Visit https://poetrydowntown.com/crowdfunding for more information on how to become a sponsor.
More info:
4th Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
Poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
