The American Poetry Museum is an outreach museum that serves as a space for exhibitions and education centered on the subject of American poetry. The Museum collects objects centered around American poetry and presents events and educational poetry writing workshops for learners of all ages. The Museum also hosts an annual exhibition each year comprised of art, photography and video about different subject matter using poetry as a tool for discussion.
Our Mission
The American Poetry Museum (APM) is dedicated to celebrating poetry, promoting literacy, fostering meaningful dialogue, encouraging an appreciation for the diversity of the American experience, and educating local, national, and international audiences through the presentation, preservation and interpretation of American poetry.
Founded in 2004, APM is one of the first museums in the world dedicated to collecting, interpreting and presenting American poetry. We are committed to the continuation of poetry as a literary and performance art and the use of poetry as an active tool for education.
A Museum for the Community
The American Poetry Museum goes beyond traditional museum functions to provides a place for communities to gather and participate in meaningful dialogue on issues that are of interest and importance to their lives. This new approach to museum programming emphasizes active learning and engagement rather than passive reflection.
APM addresses three fundamental issues:
The downward trend in book consumption by Americans, especially poetry
The need for museums to be centers of active learning and civic engagement
The encouragement and appreciation of the diversity of the American experience
By working to fulfill all of these needs, the American Poetry Museum produces programs that are specifically committed to the continuation of poetry as a literary and performance art and the use of poetry as an active tool for education
AMERICAN POETRY MUSEUM Board of Directors
SAMI MIRANDA, CHAIR & CURATOR
TAYLOR JOHNSON
HILARY BINDER AVILES, TREASURER
REUBEN JACKSON, SECRETARY
NAOMI AYALA, MEMBER
SHEILA DUNN, MEMBER