WISP: Literary Review Postcards
- Submissions for WISP: Literary Review Postcards will be open until January 1, 2026 (Winter issue) and April 1, 2026 (Spring issue). Accepting poetry, flash fiction, creative nonfiction/memoir. No more than 150 words. Artists respond to literary works. Please check page for Guidelines.
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POETRY ON THE PATIO: SUMMER READING SERIES & OPEN MIC
2025 FEATURED POETS:
MICHAEL CROWEY: Later We All Had a Good Laugh (Poetry Loft Press, 2025)
JAMES CRONIN: The Mortal Angels (Book Baby, 2024)
DIANA COLE: Between Selves (cyberwit.net, 2023)
Poet Michael Crowley and wife Susan Dillon
UPCOMING EVENTS
EKPHRASIS 2026: Where poetry and art meet
Presented by ART IN THE ATRIUM at FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH, Providence RI.
- POETRY READING and RECEPTION: JAN 22, 2026; 5:30 PM
- ARTISTS' EXHIBITION: JAN 8 -MARCH 6, 2026
- 17 Poets respond to the work of 17 Artists
FEATURING: Diana Cole, Julie Danho, Nancy Cherico, Margie Flanders, Bill Carpenter, Ravi Shankar, Jeneane Lunn, Tom Blackman, Paula Most, plus many others!
FIRST U FUNDRAISER EXHIBITION BOOKS FOR SALE -- $25
NOTABLE WORKS: poetry book release
- WILLIAM HALL LIBRARY, Cranston, RI
- SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026 at 11 AM
- Free event
BRIDGING INNOVATIVE BRIDGES FOR TOMORROW:
Readings from the winners of 2025 Notable Works Poetry Contest
WORDS on fire: Monthly open mic
- WILLIAM HALL LIBRARY, Cranston, RI
- 6 PM -7:30 PM
Co-hosts poets Ira Schaeffer and Zach Berger
On the first Wednesday of every month.
Registration required.
PAST EVENTS
providence book festival (2019)
Connecting readers with nationally acclaimed writers and poets, the Providence Book Festival was held in the Renaissance Hotel, Providence RI.
Beatrice Lazarus, Founder/Creative Director, led a team of volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the festival a reality.
PBF Authors
75 nationally acclaimed writers attended the PBF including Carolyn Kepnes, Richard Russo, Adam Braver, Marge Piercy, Fred Marchant, Helen Schulman, Jennifer Militello, Mike Stanton, Peter Gizzi, Julia Glass, Jennifer Haigh, Jacob M. Appel, plus many others.
The Providence Book Festival offered a variety of readings and educational workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, young adult & children's lit. Children's authors also gave free readings in the Providence schools in the GAINS program (Great Authors In Schools) sponsored by The Providence Book Festival and LiteraryStars NE (formerly Literary Arts RI).
PBF Keynote Speakers
M.T. Anderson, Thomas Cobb, and poet Denise Duhamel gave keynote addresses at The POETRY BOOK FESTIVAL.
WRITERS GALA
Writers Gala at the PBF
2019 Writers Gala was a great night of literary celebration and dining at the Providence Book Festival. Luminaries reading included Marge Piercy, Denise Duhamel and Richard Russo, among others.
Sponsored by LiteraryStars NE (formerly Literary Arts RI) a sister nonprofit of The Poetry Loft.
NEW England Poetry and ART Writers gala
A fabulous celebration was held in an elegant space of the Providence Public Library, for the book launch of Lay Bare the Canvas: New England Poets on Art Poets from all over New England attended this grand and memorable reception in their honor.
Sponsored by The Poetry Loft. Created / directed by Beatrice Lazarus with much gratitude to our many volunteers.
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Our Impact
Over the past years, The Poetry Loft is pleased to have helped many adults and children in our community increase their awareness of, access to, and appreciation for the reading, writing and sharing of great literature and poetry.
The POETRY LOFT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting writers and poets in our community through various programs and initiatives. Our mission is to make a positive impact through the sharing and writing of poetry and prose.
Copyright © 2025 The POETRY LOFT - All Rights Reserved.