Media Information
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joann Reeves, 458-4069
FESTIVAL 2003, THE DYER-IVES FOUNDATION AND UICA REUNITE FOR THE 35TH ANNUAL KENT COUNTY POETRY COMPETITION
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, MI – For as long as anyone can remember, award-winners of the Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition have read their works at Festival. When the UICA (Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts) was located on downtown Monroe--in the heart of Festival--this made it an ideal home for the readings. Since the UICA's 1999 move to its new home on 41 Sheldon Blvd, the awards reading have taken place everywhere from the hallway of the County Building to the North Auditorium of the Art Museum.
With Festival's geographical borderline expanding to once again include the UICA, it’s only natural to reunite the poetry readings with UICA. Not only will the readings take advantage of the great space on Sheldon Blvd, but the reading will help educate the resulting audience about the great things UICA has to offer: music, dance, film, literature, performance art and visual art as well as interdisciplinary events.
The National Judge for this year's poetry contest is Herbert Scott, founding editor of New Issues Poetry & Prose. His books of poetry include: Disguises, Groceries, and Durations as well as several chapbooks and the anthology Contemporary Michigan Poetry which he co-edited. He's been the recipient of many awards and honors, including an NEA Fellowship. A limited edition letter press book, In the Palm of Space, came out from Sutton Hoo Press in 2001. He teaches at Western Michigan University, where he is a Gwen Frostic Professor of Creative Writing.
BBK Studio has donated their time and effort to bring a new format to Voices, the Foundation's annual literary journal featuring the work of the winning poets. Another new addition to Voices will be photographs taken by apprentice artists from ArtWorks, a local organization designed to teach students critical work skills in a non-traditional manner.
The Foundation is excited about the involvement of UICA, BBK Studio, and ArtWorks with the poetry competition and the production of Voices.
Festival 2003 happens this year June 6, 7, and 8, in downtown Grand Rapids. For more information, to volunteer, or to make a financial contribution call (616) 459-1300 or log on to the website at www.festivalofthearts.org Festival of the Arts is an independent nonprofit organization, co-sponsored by the City of Grand Rapids, with support from the Kent County Board of Commissioners.