Today’s poetry news round up takes a look at the 58^th Wallace Stevens Poetry Program, the largest ever donation to the Academy of American Poetry and a change at the helm of Ledbury Poetry.

58th Wallace Stevens Poetry Program

The poet Terrance Hayes, a National Book Award winner and MacArthur “Genius,” will be visiting UConn in March for the 58^th Wallace Stevens Poetry Program. This is the first in-person event for the program in five years.

Following a reception, the poet will read from some of his own collections of poetry and former student winners of the award will also read from their work. Following the readings there will be a book signing.

The program are delighted that Hayes has agreed to be their guest for the first event that they have held since 2019.

The Wallace Stevens program is recognised as a world class event that brings together not only the most influential poets of the era, but also provides students with the opportunity to interact with them and learn more about poetry.

As arguably one of American poetry’s compelling voices, Haynes has received a number of fellowships over the years and is currently a professor of English at New York University. He has penned a total of seven poetry collections, has been a finalist in the National Book Awards and the TS Eliot Prize and has also won a National Book Award, and a Kate Tufts Discovery Award.

Founded in 1964, the Wallace Stevens Poetry Program is named after the master poet Wallace Stevens, and since its inauguration, has been responsible for bringing both international and national poets to Connecticut.

Largest-ever Donation Received by Academy of American Poets

The Academy of American Poets, which offers support to writers all over the United States, has received its largest-ever donation, a $5.7 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Last year, the academy gave laureate fellowships of $50,000 to 22 individuals from all over the country. This is just one of the ways in which poets can become a poet laureate in the United States. Others are appointed by the governor or the mayor in order to help connect young people with poetry.

The Academy received a grant of $4.5 million in 2020 to last it for 3 years.

This year’s donation is the largest philanthropic donation that they have ever received. The Academy of American Poets was founded in 1934 by Marie Bullock, a 23 year old astronomer and poet who had been educated in Paris and returned to America where she married a Wall Street titan.

The money will also go towards backing a number of projects on an annual basis which it is estimated will reach around 30 million individuals every year. These projects include workshops, poetry readings and a range of publications.

Ledbury Poetry Appoints New Director

Amy Howard has been appointed as the sabbatical cover director for Ledbury Poetry. The current director, who has been at the helm for over 17 years, will be taking an 18-month sabbatical.

Ledbury Poetry which is now in its 28^th year is the largest, most international, festival celebrating the spoken word and poetry in Britain. It takes place every year in the summer.