Information

NJPAC and Newark’s Downtown
Arts District to Host the Festival
October 7-10, 2010

To mark its 24th year, the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival—the largest poetry event in North America—will be taking root in the largest city in New Jersey: Newark.

Newark is justly proud of its long history as the cultural and entertainment njpaccenter of the Garden State. Now, an exciting opportunity arises to create a “poetry village” in the heart of the city’s vibrant arts district, with its mix of Beaux Arts, Gothic, Art Deco and contemporary architecture. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center and its surrounding neighborhood offers a wealth of state-of-the-art concert halls, intimate cabaret rooms and prime meeting spaces within nearby cultural institutions, museums, galleries and churches to ensure a rich, varied experience for all festival-goers.

Beginning with a Poetry Sampler reading on Thursday evening, October 7th, the Dodge Poetry Festival will once again immerse audiences and dozens of acclaimed poets in readings, discussions, and conversations that spotlight the many facets, faces and voices of poetry. During the days of the Festival, events will be held in venues accommodating anywhere from 100 to over 2,700. The evening programs, long the centerpiece of the Festival, will be held in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall: a world-class performance space for a world-class poetry event. As in the past, interludes of music and storytelling will underscore the spirit of community.

The relocation also makes the Festival more accessible than ever before. As one of the largest mass-transit hubs EspadaPhoto_301x201on the East Coast, Newark is home to an international airport, major bus lines, a light-rail system and PATH service from Manhattan. This will enable more visitors to leave their cars behind and further the Dodge Foundation’s ongoing commitment to creativity and sustainability as we plan toward a “greener” Festival.

Tickets will go on sale in April, National Poetry Month.

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