June 15, 2021, DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA — Palm Beach Poetry Festival Director, Susan R. Williamson, today announced that the 2022 festival, which for 17 years has been a South Florida event in Delray Beach, will hold its 18th Annual Festival virtually. “Poetry brings us together, whether in the flesh or in cyberspace. The festival’s purpose is to provide nationally recognized learning opportunities for writers of poetry and a world-class, life-enriching series of cultural events for our audiences,” said Miles Coon, Founder & Director. “We have done just that for the past 17 years at Old School Square.”We wish the extensive renovations at Old School Square which is beloved by poets who come from over 30 different states and several foreign countries, were completed in time to allow us to hold the festival in person once again. “Sadly, we will be in Delray Beach in virtual spirit,” said Williamson. Applications open June 19, 2021 using Submittable.

“Our festival is all about light … the light that we reach for from darkness, and find in poetry … together.” said Director, Susan R. Williamson. “The faculty lineup this year is simply stellar!”

As a Florida nonprofit corporation, part of the festival’s mission is to organize educational outreach programs that bring the pleasures of poetry to the community. We are a proud member of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. As in January 2021, our community p grew beyond the bounds of the much loved location we have enjoyed for the past 17 years. “We learned a lot last year and welcomed full workshops to the festival as well as our in-house bookstore, Murder On The Beach, who featured virtual book signings. These workshops will once again be led by some of America’s most award-winning and engaging poets, also renowned for their teaching,” said Assistant Director, Jennifer Litt.

2022 readings, craft talks, special events, and poetry workshops feature another stellar faculty lineup: Kim Addonizio, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Chard deNiord, Mark Doty, Yona Harvey, John Murillo, Matthew Olzmann & Diane Seuss; Special Guest Poet Yusef Komunakaa will be interviewed and read for the Thomas Lux Memorial Reading; and Poet-at-Large Aimee Nezhukumatathil will visit with Palm Beach County Schools and An Extraordinary Evening Reading. Details forthcoming via the festival website, Twitter and Facebook.

“In January, we we will once again listen to each other’s words and see each other’s faces, even if we cannot be together in Delray Beach,” said Founder Miles Coon. “The festival staff are working on ways to also present the social events we all look forward to in a virtual format,” said Coon. These virtual opportunities promise to once again create a one-of-a-kind festival experience in January 2022.