Columbus Foundation Grant Awarded to OPA

As reported in the most recent edition of Workshopping Our Words, several months of hard work by the OPA team has paid off in the form of a Community Arts Fund grant from The Columbus Foundation (TCF). After painstakingly updating the OPA profile, submitting applications, and patiently awaiting a response, the Association was awarded a grant of $500 this past summer. These funds will be used to help produce the forthcoming OPA anthology.

The OPA first established a profile with TCF two years ago under the guidance of then-OPA President Doug Rutledge. The profile is part of the TCF PowerPhilanthropy program and was originally established in an effort to improve OPA's ability to secure funding via charitable giving. The first success of these efforts was achieved last fall, when OPA raised over $700 during the TCF “The Big Give” campaign. Since that time, OPA officers have steadfastly sought other avenues of fundraising.

Those interested in donating to OPA may do so at any time via the TCF PowerPhilanthropy program website. Simply search “Ohio Poetry Association” and follow the instructions to make a donation.

The Ohio Poetry Association gratefully acknowledges The Columbus Foundation for its continued support. And we thank everyone who continues to fund our efforts to promote the art of poetry and support poets and others who appreciate poetry.

Comments

CREATING POETRY CHAPBOOKS

Adapted from a workshop delivered for the AOCI W.R.I.T.E.R.S. Group by Chris Minton What is a chapbook? Chapbooks were originally known as "street literature" because they were primarily sold on the streets by traveling salesmen known as chapmen. These small, inexpensive booklets contained a variety of content like ballads, folk tales, and religious tracts, and were a popular form of reading material for the common people, particularly those with limited access to more expensive books (for example, in rural areas). Today, chapbooks are normally used by poets to accomplish a speciﬁc objective, which may include: To create a sample of their work for publishers or other parties To target a speciﬁc, interested audience To get their work into circulation quickly To make it more aﬀordable (for both the author and reader) To create enough work over time to warrant a full-length collection To demonstrate their commitment to the craft To give as gifts to family and friends Features of...

OPA Partners with Kelton House, PARH USA to Sponsor Juneteenth Celebration

Columbus,OH – The Kelton House Museum & Garden will host a special Juneteenth Event focusing on drumming and poetry to lift the spirit and soul. The celebration will feature the drumming of Akwaaba , led by founder BabaaRitah Clark who is also a dancer at Djun'kendafala Dance Company. Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) and Poets Against Racism & Hate ( PARH) USA will feature the following four award-winning and renowned poets: Susann Moeller, a bi-lingual eco- and social justice poet, serves as Vice President of the Ohio Poetry Association (OPA) and Chancellor of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS). Chiquita Mullens Lee, acclaimed playwright and poet, serves as Arts Learning coordinator at the Ohio Arts Council, performs with Columbus-based Wild Women Writing and leads Word Warriors creative writing ministry. Karen Scott , published in anthologies, reviews, and zines, keeps her fingers on the pulse of all- things...

Odes of October 2024 Contest Winners Announced

OPA is pleased to announce that our judge for 2024, Karen Scott, has chosen the three winners and three runners-up for the 2024 Odes of October contest. First prize is awarded for "Restless Peace," by Jo Anne Moser Gibbons. First prize includes an award of $65 and inclusion in the 2025 issue of Common Threads, as well being published below. Second prize goes to "Scarecrow," by Dr. Anna Cates. This prize includes an award of $25 and appears below. Third prize goes to "Fall," also by Jo Anne Moser Gibbons. This prize includes an award of $10 and appears below. Honorable mention poems were: "Rite of Passage," by Claire Scott Rubin "Alone in Silence," by Jonathan Smith "Assassination Attempt Haiku," by Susan Glassmeyer Karen said she found her task made more difficult by the high quality of submissions, so each participant should be congratulated for their work. We thank them for participating and being a member of the OPA. A spe...

Ohio Poetry Association Blog

Search This Blog