SAN ANTONIO Press Release — This April, the City of San Antonio and newly announced 2024 – 2027 San Antonio Poet Laureate Eddie Vega invite the entire community to participate in National Poetry Month.
“April is my favorite month of the year. There’s Easter. There’s Fiesta. It’s the height of spring and we’ve got poetry blossoming all over town because it’s National Poetry Month,” Vega said. “Start with Viva Poesía, go to a reading of a favorite poet, go share or listen at an open mic. The calendar is full of events starting in March and extending into May and I can’t wait to go enjoy all that our San Antonio poetry community has to offer.”
For 28 years, the Academy of American Poets has celebrated National Poetry Month each April to remind the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. The City of San Antonio joined the National Poetry Month celebration, the largest literacy celebration in the world, in 2009 to increase public awareness about the importance of poetry.
“Not only does poetry inspire, enrich, educate and entertain, it can also help us express complex feelings and provide a connection to each other,” said Department of Arts & Culture Executive Director Krystal Jones. “Poetry has an essential place in San Antonio’s culture all year long. But April is the time when the many talented poets of San Antonio truly shine through the many National Poetry Month events.”
More than 45 events are scheduled for this year’s celebration, including youth programs, workshops, performances, discussions, and festivals. The official National Poetry kickoff event is 10th annual “VIVA Poesía: Palabras, Música, y Cultura,” presented by the City of San Antonio’s World Heritage Office, which will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the historic Mission Marquee Plaza. The theme for the event is “Confluence of the Creative Arts,” inspired by the Surrealist exquisite corpse game of collaborative compositions.
“Viva Poesía stands as a literary celebration honoring not just the beauty of spoken word but also the vibrant cultural heritage of our city,” said Director of the World Heritage Office Colleen Swain. “This kick-off event is a beloved community highlight, attracting individuals from across San Antonio to the heart of the south side. This year we have a special treat that involves not only spontaneous poetry, but also painting, sketching and the culinary arts.”
For more information about National Poetry Month San Antonio 2024, including ways to celebrate and a full list of events, visit SanAntonio.gov/Arts, and follow @GetCreativeSA #NPMSA2024 #GetCreativeSA.
