Exhibitions Policy

Poetry Foundation exhibitions reflect poetry as an expansive art form, its ecosystem, and the poets and practitioners who sustain it. We believe in the connective power of poetry and its ability to uplift human experiences. The Foundation presents three exhibitions annually in our building that reflect the loosely defined categories of community, contemporary art, and poetry archives.

Our exhibitions seek to illustrate how poetry lives in the world and honor the people who create it. We consider all art forms, eras, movements, and innovations and see work that breaks the line between poetry, visual art, and activism. We ask ourselves what poetry can look like and how to promote its existence beyond the page.

Our process for curating exhibitions is collaborative, generative, and open to all inquiries. We pursue work from women and people of color, as well as the activists, editors, and organizers whose invisible labor makes poetry possible. We defy the idea that poetry is a solitary writer with a quill.

Exhibitions are primarily curated internally by Poetry Foundation staff with these principles in mind. We welcome the opportunity to learn about your work. If you would like to propose an exhibition or collaborative art project, please contact us.

Last updated March 26, 2024.

Curatorial Process

• Categories
  • Community
  • Contemporary Art
  • Poetry Archives
• Outreach prioritizes, but is not limited to:
  • Women
  • BIPOC
  • Activists, editors, and political organizers whose invisible labor makes poetry possible

• Planning and Development
  • Two-four-year process
  • Outreach to and collaboration with:
    • Poets
    • Partner institutions
    • Guest curators
    • Artists
• What the Poetry Foundation Provides
  • Editorial guidance
  • Financial support
  • Production