Second NEA 'Big Read' grant brings more poetry to Athens area
Thanks to a recent “Big Read” grant award from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), the Athens community can enjoy a series of poetry events this June and another one in the fall.
As part of the $14,000 grant, College of Education professor Melisa “Misha” Cahnmann-Taylor, will launch a second poetry series in October focused on the works of famed American writer Edgar Allen Poe.
While participants must wait for October to enjoy these festivities, they can join the ongoing celebration of American poet Robinson Jeffers during the week of June 13-17, for the annual Seat in the Shade poetry series at Hendershot’s Coffee in downtown Athens.
The featured poets for this year’s Seat in the Shade poetry series are:
- Keetje Kuipers (June 13),
- Ann Fisher-Wirth (June 14)
- Lemuel “Life the Griot” LaRoche (June 15)
- Coleman Barks (June 16)
- Series finale, “Poetry by and for Educators: Readings from the Collective,” featuring UGA educators and students (June 17)
After each reading, the audience will have a chance to ask questions and discuss the poet’s work. The events begin at 7 p.m., and admission is free and open to the public.