Tara Skurtu

Poet, Spoken Word Artist

Brooklyn, NY
New York US

Author's Bio

Tara Skurtu is a poet and writer, writing coach, and public speaker. A two-time U.S. Fulbright grantee and recipient of two Academy of American Poets prizes, a Marcia Keach Poetry Prize, and a Robert Pinsky Global Fellowship, she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Boston University and a Creative Writing Honors Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She is the author of the chapbook Skurtu, Romania, the full poetry collection The Amoeba Game, and the upcoming full collection Faith Farm

Tara was a member of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics team at Harvard University, she was a creative writing lecturer at Boston University, and she taught composition to incarcerated students through BU’s Prison Education Program. She was also a member of the core planning and teaching team for Robert Pinsky's inaugural BU MOOC, "The Art of Poetry." Tara has over a decade of experience leading one-on-one writing coaching sessions and creative workshops and seminars. She has presented at TEDx, CreativeMornings,The Power of Storytelling, and at multinational corporations such as ING and Fidelity Investments.

Tara is the founder of International Poetry Circle and a national steering committee member of Writers for Democratic Action. She is based in Brooklyn, where she coaches writing clients around the world, and is working on her collection of essays Don’t Ask Me Why I Live Here.

Publications & Prizes

Poetry

Anthologies:
The Plume Anthology of Poetry, Volume 6 (MadHat Press, 2018)
,
The Plume Anthology of Poetry, Volume 5 (MadHat Press, 2017)
,
The Plume Anthology of Poetry, Volume 4 (MadHat Press, 2016)
,
The Poet's Quest for God (Eyewear Publishing, 2016)
,
Viva la Difference: Poetry Inspired by the Painting of Peter Saul (Off The Park Press, 2010)
Book:
The Amoeba Game (Eyewear Publishing, 2017)
Chapbook:
Skurtu, Romania (Eyewear Publishing, 2016)
Journals:
Amethyst Arsenic
,
Comstock Review
, ,
Hiram Poetry Review
, , ,
Poetry Review
, ,

Spoken Word

Performances:
Blue State Coffee, Got Poetry Live (2011)
,
David Nolan Gallery (2011)
,
The Cantab (2011)
,
Trolley Poet, Massachusetts Poetry Festival (2011)
,
Boston College (2010)
,
Boston Conservatory (2010)
,
Lizard Lounge (2010)
,
Boston Conservatory (2009)
,
Massachusetts Poetry Festival, City Hall, Lowell, MA (2009)
,
Stone Soup (2009)
,
Lizard Lounge (2008)
Prizes won: 

Robert Pinsky Global Fellowship (2013); Boston University Academy of American Poets Prize (2013); Tennessee Williams Poetry Prize Finalist (2012); Academy of American Poets Harold F. Taylor Prize (2010); Marcia Keach Poetry Prize (2010); Academy of American Poets Harold F. Taylor Prize, Honorable Mention (2008)

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Key West, FL
Florida
Raised in: 
Ft. Pierce, FL
Florida
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Apr 20, 2023