Poetry Center Statement Regarding the Cancelled Jill Scott Poetry Reading that was to be Held May 9


The Poetry Center deeply regrets the cancellation of the Jill Scott poetry reading scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2005.

Refunds were issued to everyone who purchased tickets. The refund from TicketWeb will appear on the purchaser's next credit statement.

This event was arranged in March by The Poetry Center at the request and with the support of St. Martin's Press, publisher of Ms. Scott's book, "The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours." The Poetry Center was delighted to be featuring a singer/songwriter who began her career as a poet.

All event details, including the cover charge, were approved by St. Martin's far in advance, and tickets were placed on sale via TicketWeb.com a month prior to the event. Tickets were sold to cover the cost of hosting, marketing and producing the event.

More than 800 people were expected at the event. The Poetry Center distributed 250 free tickets, as was requested by St. Martin's Press. At 4:30 p.m. on the day of the reading St. Martin's Press informed The Poetry Center that Ms. Scott was canceling her participation. The Poetry Center did everything it could to salvage the reading, even offering to refund all ticket sales in the hopes that Ms. Scott would honor her commitment to her fans. In addition, St. Martin's Press offered to provide The Poetry Center enough of her books to give to everyone who purchased a ticket. Both offers were declined by Ms. Scott's management at 5:30 p.m., the time when doors were scheduled to open.

The Poetry Center's Reading Series has presented over 400 readings in its 32 year history - including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize Winners, U.S. Poet Laureates and other highly renowned artists. Ms. Scott's last minute cancellation was the first The Poetry Center has experienced.

The Poetry Center is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization in residence at The School of the Art Institute. The organization is dedicated to promoting and developing the public's interest in poetry and to providing poets professional opportunities. In addition to its famous Reading Series, it operates "Hands on Stanzas," a poets in residence program in inner city public schools. "Hands on Stanzas" has served 60,000 students through classroom teaching and special projects, 81% of which are from low income families and represent the city's underserved communities. The program has employed scores of poets as contract employees.

www.poetrycenter.org