In partnership with the Jacksonville International Airport Arts Commission, check out our poetry exhibit the next time you fly in or out of Jacksonville or plan to take a special trip up to the airport to enjoy the art!

Come enjoy our 6 Word Memoir Exhibit and then leave with up a single-use, take-home poetry packet to create your own!

What is the six-word memoir, exactly?

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It’s a story told in only six words, of course! This activity requires writers to boil a story down to its core, then summarize it in half a dozen words. Most writers hone in on a deep topic or pivotal experience, but existential themes aren’t a requirement. Common memoir themes include life and death, love, loss, and even religion.

Pick-up single-use take home poetry lessons from MOCA Jax, Chamblin’s Uptown, Museum of Science and History, Downtown Jacksonville Public Library’s Teen Center

This workshop is open to any form of writing: fiction, poetry, diary, essay, play, stand-up comedy, rap, speech, etc. We offer a forum for the writer to be heard and, if desired, receive feedback. It is suggested that writers bring no more than 3 to 5 pages so that we can get to everyone’s work. Any genre or style of writing is welcome, from the mainstream to the avant-garde.

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The craft does not have to be a solitary pursuit. Come share your words with others and feel yourself a part of a community! Your words matter! Laid-back atmosphere, this is a relaxing evening of sharing and being with like-minded people.

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This is a free, virtual event. If you have questions, please contact Ruth Van Alstine. RSVP is necessary to attend event. RSVP name must match ZOOM ID name to be admitted to Zoom room.

A Pantoum is a Malaysian verse form adapted by French poets and occasionally

imitated in English. It uses repetition in a way that brings a sense of urgency, importance and emotion of the poem. Though this form can be really intimidating, in this workshop we’ll show how it can not only be easy, but a lot of fun too.

A workshop in haiku composition will provide a brief history of its Japanese origins,

with discussion regarding the form, content, and literary devices at work in haiku, and the opportunity for attendees to compose and share their own haiku. Numerous examples of classic and contemporary haiku will be presented along the way and bibliographic references, glossaries, and other handouts will supplement the program.

 Join us every Thursday in April for live poetry readings in the park from local poets, authors, artists, and more!

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Artistic, solid, understanding, honest...these are but a few words that describe KnightKrawler. He realized at a young age he had a desire to write what others did not, would not, and could not say aloud. A published author of three books, “Endless Night,” Another Endless Knight,” and “The Rules of Poetry”, he shares his knowledge and inspires both artists and fans alike. His latest book is a collection of 80 poems and short stories and in circulation throughout the Jacksonville Public Library system. 

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In addition to being a published author, KnightKrawler has an extensive performance background throughout the United States and Canada facilitating workshops, seminars, and spoken word events that focus on the importance of education, effective communication, and how the belief in oneself can impact meaningful personal change and positive outcomes on a greater scale. His affiliations include being an alumnus of both Florida State College in Jacksonville and Jacksonville University.

Interested in becoming a comic and a poet at the same time? Write a Clerihew poem. Clerihews are short, biographical poems designed to poke fun at someone gently—often a celebrity or famous public figure—in an unusual, kind-hearted, and humorous way. This comic, poetic style is only four lines long, so clerihews are easy to write and are quick to read.

At up to 55 locations around Downtown Jacksonville. Explore the city streets and find poetry and art exhibits featuring work done by Jacksonville's youth during Hope at Hand poetry classes! 

Join us every Thursday in April for live poetry readings in the park from local poets, authors, artists, and more! Taryn "LoveReigns" Wharwood is a poet, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and curator of dopeness. She is the CEO of IAmLoveReigns Enterprises LLC, s multimedia company focusing on digital branding and marketing for artists and small businesses. 

Coming this spring, enjoy a free, four-week concert series on Downtown Jacksonville’s scenic riverfront featuring national headliners and local and regional openers. Browse the Small Business & Artist Market, enjoy onsite food trucks and bars with local craft beer and spirits. Featuring pop punk band New Found Glory and local opener Universal Green. Click here for more info. 

Join us for National Poetry Month at our Poetry Hub Virtual Workshop. A lively discussion of poetry from those of all walks of life. Here, we take a break from the stressful and divisive modern world and celebrate the uniting and reflective power of poetry. At NFPH, we are continually fostering a space for bravery, power, joy, and comfort.

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We encourage attendees to bring a poem with them. Poets who bring their own poems can choose to receive constructive feedback, but no skill level whatsoever is required! You don't need to be a poet to love poetry, so feel free to also bring an already published poem to share and speak about. Or! Just come to listen and enjoy what others are bringing.

Have you ever wanted to walk with in the shoes of a different person? Can you be inspired by art and transport your imagination into a face that lives in a painting? What thorny storytelling awaits your pen? We shall dive into the persona poem, wear the jacket of another person or inanimate object. Let's tell a story that we have not experienced. Let us write what we do not know.

In this workshop, we will:

• Read and discuss various persona poems and learn from them! Be inspired by them!

• Engage One or two writing prompts to get us started in this type of poetic storytelling

• Produce a crappy first draft of an eight-line persona poem.

• Hear from each other as time allows

Join us every Thursday in April for live poetry readings in the park from local poets, authors, artists, and more! 

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ChocolateFe is a woman of many layers. She is a 13 year Lupus Survivor, Poet, Motivator, Author and Business Owner of SHE Originals custom jewelry/accessories. She recently started her non-profit in November 2018 (FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE FOUNDATION) which promotes lupus awareness and is active with raising the self- esteem of young girls and women that face challenges finding their purpose. She is an advocate for encouraging young girls to believe in themselves and know that they were designed for greatness and that their true beauty lies within. Her poetic single “Dear Brown Girl” has been adopted as an affirmation for individuals inspiring them to be their best self.

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ChocolateFe is an advocate for Community Service and has partnered with many local organizations. She travels all over the south for Spoken Word and Motivational speaking engagements and is currently being managed by Tolbert Management Agency.

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Her story is still being written, but one thing for sure “Giving up is not an Option”.

Coming this spring, enjoy a free, four-week concert series on Downtown Jacksonville’s scenic riverfront featuring national headliners and local and regional openers. Browse the Small Business & Artist Market, enjoy onsite food trucks and bars with local craft beer and spirits. Featuring hip hop artists and Jacksonville natives Quad City DJ's and local opener LPT. Click here for more info. 

Come explore the world of structured poetry as we study poems with patterns and/or repeating lines and use our own life experience to create a set of poems personal to each of us. In this workshop, participants will learn how to craft three different types of “I am” poems and one “I prefer” poem that contain repeating lines.

Join us everything Thursday in April for live poetry readings in the park from local poets, authors, artists, and more! 

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Todd Rykaczewski is an accomplished writer, self-taught mixed media artist, congressionally awarded photographer, and founder of Word Revolt Art Gallery. Rykaczewski has contributed to various publications and speaking engagements both locally and internationally. He is known for working on his antique Underwood typewriter, as seen reading custom poetry written for Netflix Canada, 2020.

Todd uses this piece of tech to replace a typical profile photo in response to deep fake technology and how AI will surpass human involvement.

Coming this spring, enjoy a free, four-week concert series on Downtown Jacksonville’s scenic riverfront featuring national headliners and local and regional openers. Browse the Small Business & Artist Market, enjoy onsite food trucks and bars with local craft beer and spirits. Featuring rock band Sugar Ray and local opener Honey Hounds. Click here for more info. 

It is often said that it is easier to edit material than create it from scratch. Blackout poetry is an innovative approach to poetry and creative expression, especially for people who are new to exploring their artist side. Only a few materials are needed, a pencil, pen, a page of a book, and your imagination.