"Sporting Words, a Gathering of Poets Laureate" coming to Indianapolis this June.
The National Gathering of Poets Laureate will be held in Indianapolis this June 22-28. The theme of the Gathering is "Sporting Words" as the participants will use poetry to celebrate Indiana's rich history and current culture in athletics. The Indiana Arts Commission is collaborating with various organizations to host the event which will feature many U.S. and international Poets Laureate.
From the Eiteljorg Museum exhibit on the Native American invention of La Crosse to the National Sports Art Museum on the IUPUI campus, Poets Laureate from around the country and world will come together and put a voice to their experience. Participants will attend youth poetry clinics and sporting activities across the state, and then convene in Indianapolis to observe, participate, write and recite poetry at sports-related activities.
As an element of the gathering, local poets will lead sports/poetry clinics for youth this spring. Students will write poetry in advance, then recite their creations in various locations around Indiana for our Poet Laureate guests. The recitations will be distributed to the participants on CD.
"Sporting Words" will be the third biennial Poets Laureate event. In previous years, poets have gathered in New Hampshire and North Dakota. Currently, 39 states have a Poet Laureate.
For more information about "Sporting Words, a Gathering of Poets Laureate," including a complete listing of the week's activities and registration forms for public events, visit
www.in.gov/arts/poet/sportingwords/index.html. The Indiana Arts Commission funds the Poet Laureate education efforts through an annual stipend, administers special programs, and maintains the website.
