West Chester University Poetry Conference
| West Chester University Poetry Conference | |
|---|---|
| Begins | Wednesday, June 8, 2011 |
| Ends | Saturday, June 11, 2011 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, United States |
| Inaugurated | June 1995, West Chester, PA |
| Most recent | June 9-12th, 2010 |
| Participants | 300 poets and poetry scholars |
| Genre | Formalist poetic craft conference |
| Website | WCU Poetry Conference |
Director |
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West Chester University Poetry Conference is an international poetry conference that has been held annually since 1995 at West Chester University, Pennsylvania, United States. It hosts various panel discussions and poetry craft workshops, which focus primarily on formal poetry, narrative poetry, New Formalism[1] and Expansive Poetry. It is largest poetry-only conference in America[2] and possibly the world[3] as well as the only conference which focuses on traditional craft.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
The conference was founded in 1995 by West Chester professor Michael Peich and poet Dana Gioia with 85 poets and scholars in attendance.[4] The original core faculty members included Annie Finch, R. S. Gwynn, Mark Jarman, Robert McDowell, and Timothy Steele. While some of these faculty still return regularly to teach, the faculty has expanded in recent years to include Kim Addonizio, Rhina Espaillat, B. H. Fairchild, Rachel Hadas, Molly Peacock, Mary Jo Salter, A. E. Stallings, and many other widely published New Formalists.
Starting in 1999, the conference's program began including an art song concert.[4]
In 2003, Gioia stepped down as co-director of the conference in order to become chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The 2010 conference was the 16th and last year with Peich as director before he retired and passed the position to Kim Bridgford.[2][5] By this time, the conference attendance had increased to 300 poets and poetry scholars.[4] That year's concert of art song featured Natalie Merchant, who sung the poetry of various poets of the past.[4] On June 12, the last day of the conference, British comic poet Wendy Cope found out over the phone that she was made an Officer of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II[6] while attending.[7]
[edit] Awards given
Every year, the WCU Poetry Conference gives out three Iris N. Spencer Poetry Awards, the most notable one being the nationally-competitive Donald Justice Poetry Prize. The other two are given to recognize local regional undergraduate work in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania.
[edit] Keynote speakers
[edit] See also
- Mezzo Cammin, a journal of formalist poetry by women, associated with the WCU Poetry Conference
- Poetry
- American poetry
- List of years in poetry
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Thompson, Nigel S. "Letter from West Chester." The Times Literary Supplement. September 1999.
- ^ a b c Timpane, John "Conference draws poets not for reading, but for crafting." Philadelphia Inquirer. Sun, Jun. 6, 2010.
- ^ "So You Want to Win a Nemerov?" 14 by 14. Issue 6. October 2008.
- ^ a b c d Hitchner, Earle "Verse That Sings in Many Styles." Wall Street Journal. JUNE 17, 2010
- ^ http://www.wcupa.edu/_ACADEMICS/SCH_CAS/POETRY/BridgfordAnnouncement.asp
- ^ Queen's Birthday Honours List 2010. Saturday 12 June 2010
- ^ Wendy Cope Interviewed at West Chester Poetry Conference
