The Emily Dickinson Museum is now accepting proposals for the eighth annual Tell It Slant Poetry Festival (formerly the Amherst Poetry Festival), A VIRTUAL EVENT held September 17-20, 2020!
DEADLINE NOW EXTENDED!!!
Produced by the Emily Dickinson Museum, with support from the Amherst Business Improvement District, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Jones Library, the Tell It Slant Poetry Festival celebrates the poetic legacy of Emily Dickinson and the contemporary creativity of the Pioneer Valley and beyond.
The Festival’s new name “Tell It Slant,” was selected in homage to Dickinson’s poem, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant.” This title underscores the revolutionary power of poetry to shift our perspective and reveal new truths. The Tell It Slant Poetry Festival remains committed to featuring and serving established and emerging poets who represent the diversity of the flourishing contemporary American poetry scene, and to fostering community by placing poetry in the public sphere. To see our 2019 Festival schedule click here.
The Festival Steering Committee is planning a virtual event to ensure the health and safety of participants. While we are disappointed not to gather together in Amherst, we find (as always) that Dickinson offers inspiration. Dickinson was an engaging correspondent, whose epistolary poems connected her to a wider community of friends and writers. During this time, we call on you to help us carry on Dickinson’s legacy of creating community and sparking the imagination as we shelter in place. We invite you to “dwell in possibility” and submit your most inventive proposals for audience-centered workshops, panel discussions, and programs.
We are privileging proposals for live, synchronous content, but will also consider asynchronous submissions. Synchronous content includes virtual programs or experiences, including performances, live panels and workshops. Asynchronous content might include a web exhibit or pre-recorded content premiering at the Poetry Festival.
The Steering Committee especially welcomes the following:
- Submissions from groups of 2 – 5 facilitators
- Submissions that engage young attendees and those new to poetry
- Submissions that creatively encourage audience participation or that foster a sense of community or space
Honoraria are provided per event.
Proposals should be designed for one of the following program slots: (Individuals may submit separate forms if proposing more than one program)
GENERAL AUDIENCES on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
- Evening music, theater, dance, screening or other performance for general audiences. Submissions should be for 60- to 90-minute programs.
- A $500 honorarium is offered for this program.
HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHOPS on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
- Private poetry workshops for students of high school age (grades 9-12). 45-minute sessions, to be offered up to four times between 7:50 am to 3 pm. Partner schools will be shared with selected poets and will include schools in Hampshire and Hampden counties.
- A $350 honorarium is offered for the day’s workshops.
GENERAL AUDIENCE PROGRAMS on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, and SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2020
- Daytime poetry workshops, panels, or participatory programs open to the public. Event sessions are typically an hour and a half long.
- $250 honoraria offered per event.
Submission Guidelines:
- Only submissions made in the online form will be considered. There is no fee to submit proposals.
- Following your submission, please email your resume/cv to edmprograms@emilydickinsonmuseum.org.
- Include “POETRY FESTIVAL SUBMISSION” in the title of the e-mail. We can accept .pdf, .doc, .docx files.
If applicable, you may also submit an image in .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, and .png format.
- Include “POETRY FESTIVAL SUBMISSION” in the title of the e-mail. We can accept .pdf, .doc, .docx files.
- Selected facilitators will be notified mid-June and will be asked to sign a letter of agreement confirming their participation in the Festival.
- Submissions Due: Sunday, June 7, 2020, 11:59 pm EST.
Submissions will be judged on the following:
- Originality – Is your idea bold and intriguing? Will it offer something new to our Festival?
- Quality – Does the submission reflect thoughtful preparation? How are you uniquely qualified to facilitate this program?
- Audience – Have you clearly outlined participatory elements? How does your proposal contribute to community-building for the Tell It Slant Poetry Festival?
- Special consideration will be given to Pioneer Valley and Massachusetts-based facilitators.
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL
Questions? Email us at edmprograms@emilydickinsonmuseum.org