Press Release
Celebrating 175 Years of Edgar Allan Poe, Poetry Downtown is thrilled to introduce Chris Semtner and G.H. Mosson as the new jury members for this year poetry competition, themed “The Raven.”
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
We extend our heartfelt thanks to former jury members, P. Segal and Greg Bell, for their invaluable contributions. For more details about the jury, our rules and rating please visit Poetry Downtown Jury.
Themes
Each year, Poetry Downtown honors a distinguished poet for their lifetime achievement. In 2021, the festival celebrated Kenneth Patchen with “Get Ready To Die”; in 2022, Charles Bukowski with “Some People Never Go Crazy”; and in 2023, Sylvia Plath with “I Never Could Talk To You.” This year, the festival pays tribute to Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809, Boston, MA – October 7, 1849, Baltimore, MD) on the 175th anniversary of his death with the theme “The Raven.”
Competition
The Poetry Downtown Festival invites each year the best poets to read at their festival. To get selected in the anthology and at one of the four Poetry Downtown stages poets have to submit their “The Raven” poem by September 1, 2024.
Anthology
To be selected for the annual Poetry Downtown Anthology, poets must accumulate at least 30 points from the jury. Each jury member evaluates poems on five criteria, assigning 0 to 3 points for each:
- Theme: How well the poem aligns with “The Raven” theme.
- Emotion: The depth and impact of the poem’s emotional expression.
- Audience: The poem’s ability to engage and resonate with the audience.
- Personality: The uniqueness and voice of the poet.
- Technique: The mastery of poetic form and technique.
Submissions are evaluated meticulously to ensure a high standard of quality and relevance.
Readings
Selected poets will have the opportunity to read their work at events in:
– Boston: September 27, 8-10 PM at Long Wharf Pavilion, a this site Poe’s mother, Eliza arrived in 1796.
– New York: September 28, 12:30-2:30 PM at Edgar Allan Poe’s cottage, Bronx.
– Philadelphia: September 28, 8-10 PM at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, Rittenhouse Square.
– Baltimore: September 29 at Protean Books & Records.
More info:
4th Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
