Looking for just the right poet to perform at your special event? Or are you looking to create a custom poetry event for your community? The Chicago Poetry Center partners with cultural institutions, workplaces, schools, and organizations across Chicago and beyond to create bespoke poetry event programming.
Whether you are looking to involve one poet or several, feature a poet as part of a larger event, or have CPC curate a full program, we can help! CPC proudly works with an amazing community of poets whose work feature a diverse set of themes and poetic styles. CPC works with partners to create performances, educational programs, and workshops.
Let’s collaborate! Reach out to us at programs@poetrycenter.org.
Custom Programs
Special Events
CPC partners with organizations and businesses across Chicago to curate just the right poets for special events. Whether kicking off an awards ceremony with a special poem, or curating a multi-poet engagement for a cultural heritage month, CPC can work with your team to create a perfectly poetic performance. Browse past event highlights here.
Workplaces
Looking for a jolt of creativity in your workday? Or a thoughtful way to celebrate a holiday or heritage month? CPC offers custom creativity workshops tailored to your organization that can be designed for inspiration, wellness, or team-building. We host special poetry performances and conversations for holidays like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and for month-long celebrations like Pride. Looking for a new approach to inclusion-centered dialogue at work? Check out our Critical Conversations program.
Colleges
Universities and colleges welcome CPC Poets in Residence as guest speakers, workshop leaders, and performers. Learning directly from dynamic creatives working in the arts provides an exceptional first-hand experience for students to explore, inquire, and create. Whether for a classroom, campus group, or community-wide event, CPC will build a program for your students and faculty.
Pre-K through High School
With over 25 years of experience as an arts partner to Chicago schools, CPC has built a dynamic set of offerings for learners of every age. Explore our full suite of education programs, from long-term residencies to one-day workshops or assemblies, or work with us to tailor programming to the needs of your school. Our Poets in Residence have a broad range of expertise, including dual language instruction, early childhood education, and high school specialization, and our team will work with your school to find the right engagement options and teaching artists for your goals.
Collaborators & Event Partners
CPC has curated or programmed for organizations including the National Museum of Mexican Art, the Poetry Foundation, National Louis University, the School of the Art Institute, The University of Colorado Boulder, CBRE, West Monroe, Hines, the Chinese American Museum, Chicago Public Schools, North River Commission, Ingenuity, Illinois Humanities and so many more.