San Diego Poetry Annual 2024-25, Cantos, Events

II Premio Nacional de Poesía at Casa de la Cultura en la Colonia Altamira de Tijuana, Día Nacional de la Poesía, Cantos reading hosted by Olga García and Michael Klam. Sign up to read and get info at sdpoetryannual@gmail.com or SDPA Instagram: @sdpoetryannual.

Hola queridos amigos poetas y traductores: Estamos invitados por IMAC, a presentar Cantos Anuario de Poesía de SD 2024-25, para celebrar el 21 de marzo, Día de la Poesía, en la Casa de la Cultura en la colonia Altamira de Tijuana. Ese día haré entrega de su ejemplar gratuito de Cantos. Gracias a Samantha Luna, miembro del IMAC, y a Mara Maciel, directora de la Casa de la Cultura por esta hermosa y significativa invitación. En la presentación tendré el gusto y honor de estar acompañada por la reconocida y admirada poeta Ruth Vargas Leyva. Después de la presentación tendremos micrófono abierto. Inviten por favor a amigos para continuar escuchando poesía. El programa es el siguiente: 15:00 horas Lanzamiento de la convocatoria del XXVII Premio Nacional de Poesía Tijuana. 16:00 horas Presentación de la edición bilingüe 2024-25 del San Diego Poetry Annual. 17:00 horas Micrófono abierto: Jam Session de Poesía Vol. 1. Gracias mil por permitirnos publicar y gozar de sus magníficos poemas. Abrazo fuerte, Olga García

SDPA 2024-25 cover photography by Fernando Phillipi.

April 5, 9am-6pm: Featured Poets Reading and SDPA Open Mic at San Diego Writers Festival! Join us for two inspiring events hosted by Michael Klam and Carly DeMento. Plan to meet us in the community room at 3:30pm. This year’s Featured Poets Reading will include 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry winner, Brandon Som, Kumeyaay Nation and American Book Award winner, Tommy Pico, outgoing and incoming San Diego Poet Laureates, Jason Magabo Perez and Paola Capó-García, and acclaimed poets Katie Manning and Shadab Zeest Hashmi.

Stick around for the 4:45pm SDPA Open Mic immediately following the Featured Poets Reading and close out the festival as a community. Special guests include Hayley Mitchel Haugen of Sheila-Na-Gig Editions. Space for reading at this open mic is limited, but we have two more April open mic opportunities (see below) where you can participate. Sign up and get info at sdpoetryannual@gmail.com

The all day, free festival returns to the Coronado Public Library and Arts complex with over 50 presenters, speakers, and interactive events for writers and literature lovers of all stripes and ages. Free Registration to attend here.

April 6, 2pm-3:30pm: A Celebration of Poetry Across Languages with host Jeff Bettger at the Chula Vista Civic Library. Visit PagesAndCanvas.com for details and see below:

April 7, 6:30pm-8:30pm: San Diego Poetry Annual 2024-25 Book Launch at Point Loma Library hosted by Michael Klam and Jane Muschenetz. Featured anthology readers and open to the public. Sign up to read and get details at sdpoetryannual@gmail.com or SDPA Instagram: @sdpoetryannual.

SDPA 2024-25 cover photography by Fernando Phillipi.

April 19, 3:00pm-5:00pm: SDPA at Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Knox Branch Library with host Charlie Berigan. Sign up to read and get details at sdpoetryannual@gmail.com or SDPA Instagram: @sdpoetryannual.

April 22, 6:00pm-8:30pm: Steve Kowit Poetry Prize at Central Library hosted by Bill Harding, Valarie Hastings and Michael Klam. Sign up to volunteer and get details at sdpoetryannual@gmail.com or SDPA Instagram: @sdpoetryannual.

2024 Kowit Award Judge: Ellen Bass

2024 First Prize: Devreaux Baker, $1,000

2024 Second Prize: Kim Noriega, $250

2024 Third Prize: Jessica Cohn, $100

Honorable Mention:  No Cash Award

Winners and Honorable Mentions will be invited to read at the annual awards reception on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Shiley Special Events Suite, 9th floor, San Diego Central Library. Winning and Honorable Mention poems will be published in the San Diego Poetry Annual in March.