Word Travels: a biennial sidewalk contest

Programs

Dec 12

Written By SE2M

The Word Travels program invites writers of all ages and abilities who live, work, or go to school in Germantown to submit original poems. Selected poems are installed in unexpected places throughout the city creating a treasure trove of Germantown expression.

New, emerging or professional writers of any age living, working or going to school in Germantown can participate. Winning poets will get a $150 prize, and their poetry will be displayed in unexpected places around city walkways, while runners-up will receive a $75 prize.

This program creates an opportunity for non-public artists to participate in public art through a different medium than visual art. Biennially, new poems are added to the collection. These poems will create a wonderful chance for people to serendipitously come across a piece of writing that might give them pause to think, imagine, laugh, or simply feel. With the opportunity for community-wide participation, including school-age children, the selected poems will eventually become a treasure trove of Germantown expression about all manner of things—including love, loss, friendship, nature, culture, and history.

Submission portal closed

Timeline:

Accept new poetry submissions: March 1, 2024
Poetry Workshops at the Germantown Community Library:

Poetry Writing Workshop (ages 9-15): Saturday, March 9th at 1 p.m.
Poetry Writing Workshop (ages 16+): Saturday, March 23rd at 1 p.m.

Deadline to submit: March 30, 2024
Evaluation process: April 8th- 19th
Winners Announced: Last week of April (National Poetry Month)
Poem Installation: May—June

Eligibility:

New, emerging, or professional writers of any age living, working, or going to school in Germantown can participate
2021 Finalists are ineligible to participate in this year’s contest
2021 Semi-finalists are eligible to submit

2024 Submission details:

Poems should be unique and must not use copyrighted materials
Submitted poems should contain no more than 300 characters (including spaces) and must not exceed 10 lines
This year's contest theme is “Transitions”
Poets can submit more than one poem
Deadline to submit: March 31st, 2024

Check out the Poem locations from previous contests by selecting the RED icons below

2021 Winning Poems:

Audrey Rollen
Janette Kennedy
Denise C. Kerlan
Adele Ferguson
Niyantha Kaushik

About the Mitch Major Memorial Fund

The Word Travels - Mitch Major Memorial Fund was established in 2021 in memory of highly esteemed Germantown Performing Arts Center board member and City of Germantown resident Mitch Major, whose fondness for literature shaped his entire life.

The Mitch Major Memorial Fund will be dedicated to sustaining Word Travels - an annual sidewalk poetry contest inspired by Mitch’s love for the literary arts, his passion for lifelong learning, and the joy he took sharing his discoveries in the world of the written word.