Funding for Events

Since its inception in 1970, Poets & Writers has provided fees to writers who give readings or conduct writing workshops. Each year, our Readings/Workshops program supports hundreds of writers participating in events in large cities and small towns throughout New York and California, as well as in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Seattle, New Orleans, Tucson, and Washington D.C.

Seniors Writing Workshop

A documentary look at a writing workshop for seniors, which Poets & Writers has funded for ten years. The workshop takes place at the Goddard Riverside Community Center in New York City and some of the writers have participated continuously since 2001.

Events Calendar

Each year, through its Readings/Workshops Program, Poets & Writers supports hundreds of writers participating in literary events. If you're interested in attending any of the readings or workshops listed in the calendar, please be sure to get in touch with the contact person to confirm time and place.

See All Upcoming Events

Intergenerational Reading

Each year, Poets & Writers holds an Intergenerational Reading, "Connecting Generations," where seniors and teens from P&W-supported writing workshops in New York City come together to read their work. In June 2009, P&W held our 8th Annual Intergenerational Reading at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore near Lincoln Center.

View videos from the 2009 Intergenerational Reading

Supporters

The Readings/Workshops program is supported, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Major support for Readings/Workshops in California is provided by The James Irvine Foundation.

Additional support is provided by the Louis & Anne Abrons Foundation, the Axe-Houghton Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Cowles Charitable Trust, the A.K. Starr Charitable Trust, and Friends of Poets & Writers.

Guidelines and Application

To apply for funds to support your event, download our application.

Reports From Our Sponsored Writers and Presenters

For the month of February, longtime P&W–supported poet and presenter of literary events Cheryl Boyce Taylor blogs about her favorite subject: poetry, among other topics. Taylor is the founder of the Calypso Muse Reading Series, which takes place in New York City, and author of the collections Raw Air, Night When Moon Follows and Convincing the Body.

FAQ

If you're a writer or an organization interested in learning more about the Readings/Workshops program, please check out our FAQ.

Read the FAQ

Guide to Presenting

Learn how to host a successful reading or event, step by step, by downloading our helpful Poets & Writers Guide to Presenting Readings and Workshops.

Download the Guide

Special Projects

Poets & Writers is committed to making literature available to the widest possible public, including audiences that rarely have access to literary events. Learn more about the special projects we support that bring readings and workshops to prisons, clinics, homeless shelters, settlement homes, and more.

Read Writing by Participants

What They're Saying

Every bit of money I earn for my creativity helps me stay brave [so that I can] continue my work, so I appreciate Poets & Writers’ support for literary artists.

– Writer Jaime Cortez after a reading with Intersection for the Arts in San Francisco