2nd Annual NH Poetry Festival -- September 24

MANCHESTER, NH, August 16, 2016 – This fall, the Granite State celebrates its strong poetry tradition with the 2^nd Annual New Hampshire Poetry Festival. Organized by two leading literary organizations, The Poetry Society of New Hampshire and The New Hampshire Institute of Art, the event takes place Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester.                                                                          

“Last year’s inaugural New Hampshire Poetry Festival exceeded expectations, bringing together poets and poetry lovers from around the world,” said Jennifer Militello, director, New Hampshire Poetry Festival. “With a thriving poetry community, New Hampshire is the ideal home for this literary event and we look forward another inspiring day on September 24, celebrating the reading and writing of poetry.” 

The conference features readings, panels, and workshops by some of the country’s best-known poets. Highlights include: 

• Headliner reading by Former Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Ellen Bryant Voigt.
• Workshops by award-winning poets Paige Ackerson-Kiely, Wyn Cooper, Cate Marvin, and January Gill O'Neil.
• Readings from diverse poets from around New England and the world.
• Panel discussions on topics including a tribute to Maxine Kumin; translation; short poems and social media sharing; poetry and community; poetry and art collaborations; and more. 

Poetry has always been an essential part of New Hampshire’s rich literary culture. Five U.S. Poets Laureate hail from the state, and each year poets from across the state win awards, publish books, teach workshops, give readings, and share poetry with students of all ages. 

The NH Poetry Fest brings together a broad community including poets winning prestigious awards; Guggenheim, MacDowell Colony, Cave Canem and National Endowment of the Arts Fellows; former and current Poets Laureates; heads of literary organizations; professors; well-known editors, and students of poetry at multiple levels. 

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is an event supporter. Gibson’s Bookstore from Concord, NH, will sell speakers’ books onsite. Participants also have the opportunity to talk with exhibiting publishers and educators including Folded Word, Hobblebush Books, Tupelo Press, Zephyr Press, New Hampshire Institute of Art, The Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College and New England College MFA Creative Writing Program. 

For more information or to register, please visit: www.poetrysocietyofnewhampshire.org/fest/ or find us on Facebook (facebook.com/nhpoetryfest) or Twitter (@NHPoetryFest).