Kingston Poetry Project

The Kingston Poetry Project launches with a celebration of local talent

Kingston is filled with so many talented and enthusiastic citizens who follow their passion as poets and writers. Find out how you can express yourself creatively as well. No experience required! Kingston’s inaugural Poet Laureate, Eric Folsom, welcomes his friends and colleagues – David Helwig, Joanne Page, Carolyn Smart and Daniel David Moses to read selections of their works and encourage the audience to write their own poems to share.

This free event takes place at Kingston City Hall, Memorial Hall from 5 to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 20. Light refreshments will be served and the event is open to all ages. Immediately following this event, Folsom will attend the City Council meeting starting at 7:30 pm where he will be introduced to the community by Mayor Gerretsen and read a poem that will become part of the official minutes of the meeting.

This event kicks off the In your own words | Kingston Poetry Project that invites Kingston residents to write about their city through poetry. Join us and help make Kingston a true city of words!

Eric Folsom was selected as Kingston’s inaugural Poet Laureate by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Arts Advisory Committee and approved by Council in January 2011. This appointment was made based on the high quality of Folsom’s writing, his deep familiarity with Kingston's history, his enduring interest in new literary voices, and his demonstrated ability to showcase Kingston as a centre of writing and artistic distinction. Serving a four-year term, Folsom will be the spokesperson for the literary arts in this city - home to Kingston Writersfest and a prodigious number of celebrated poets, authors and playwrights.