A new era of poetic celebration is set to begin in Columbia as the city's poet laureate, Jennifer Bartell Boykin, prepares to host the first-ever Soda City Poetry Festival at the Richland Library Main. The festival, scheduled for June 22, promises a day filled with workshops, panels, and writing sessions curated by Boykin in her role as Columbia's esteemed poet laureate.
Embracing Columbia's Poetry Community
Boykin, a dedicated teacher in Richland County, was inspired to create the festival after receiving the prestigious title of 2023 Poet Laureate Fellow from the Academy of American Poets. With a grant of $50,000 in hand, Boykin aims to foster young talent through a debate/poetry slam program for teenagers and to bring the city's poetry community together under one roof at the festival.
A Day of Poetry and Connection
Participants at the festival can expect a diverse range of activities, from insightful panels on poetry beginnings to workshops on the art of teaching poetry and navigating the business side of the craft. Attendees will have the chance to not only write and present their own work but also explore ekphrasis, a poetic form based on visual art, with the guidance of two visiting artists. The day will culminate in an open mic session, inviting all to share their poetic creations.
Inspiring the Next Generation
In addition to offerings for adults, the festival will feature tailored workshops for young participants, including a writing workshop for children aged five to 12 and a teen poetry showcase. Boykin, a lifelong advocate for poetry as a means of self-expression and storytelling, believes in the power of poetry to unite people of all ages and backgrounds.
Celebrating Poetry as Freedom
For Boykin, poetry is not merely a form of self-expression but an avenue for connection and empowerment. She envisions the festival as a platform for individuals to reconnect with the joy of language and share their narratives with others. Regardless of age or experience, Boykin believes everyone has the potential to be a poet.
The Soda City Poetry Festival will be held at the Richland Library Main location on 1431 Assembly St. While the event is free, interested attendees are encouraged to register online. The festival, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers flexibility for participants to come and go as they please, with the full schedule and additional details available on the festival's official website.