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Welcome to…
The Riverbank Poetry Project serves as a forum for local poets, inclusive of all abilities and ages, in a friendly, nurturing and welcoming environment.
Please join our mailing list! Once a month we’ll send you an e-mail informing you about our upcoming events. No spam. No address trading. Just a blurb about what’s going on and maybe a poem at the bottom for your enlightenment.
Enter your email address for updates on Riverbank Poetry
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About Us
The Riverbank Poetry Project was founded in 1995 and serves as a forum for local poets, inclusive of all
abilities and ages, in a friendly, nurturing, and welcoming environment.
Riverbank Poetry sponsors a number of programs in the Hamilton/Fairfield/Cincinnati area including:
- hosting monthly Open Mic Poetry & Featured Poet readings
- providing a Poet Laureate available for school and community performances
- sending a Poet-in-Residence into schools for performances and education
- organizing a Student Poetry Competition each Spring
- holding an annual Poetry Slam Competition with cash prizes
- staging special events with internationally acclaimed poets
Riverbank Poetry has held their events at numerous locations throughout the community including arts centers,
libraries, schools, bookstores and restaurants. For the 2007 – 2008 season events will be held primarily at
the Fairfield Community Arts Center.
Riverbank Poetry will also make appearances at the Riverbank Café, and Fairfield,
Hamilton & Lakota city school districts (Ohio)
Big changes in 2007 - 2008
Since it’s inception the Riverbank Poetry Project has been an independent organization but closely affiliated with
the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton. Beginning the 2007 - 2008 season, Riverbank Poetry is pursuing
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization status which will allow us to pursue grants and other types of funding.
Additionally, Riverbank is hosting the majority of their events at the Fairfield Community Arts Center.
There has been many people and organizations who have helped the Riverbank Poetry Project over the years.
Riverbank Poetry greatly appreciates your assistance. We couldn't do it without you!
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Calendar of Events
Riverbank Poetry events for the 2007 - 2008 season are listed below. Additional events may be added as the
season progresses. All events are free and open to the public and unless otherwise noted.
- Tuesday, September 11, 2007 -
Open Mic Poetry and Drum Circle
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - drum circle
8:00 - open mic poetry
- Tuesday, October 9, 2007 -
Open Mic Poetry and Featured Poet
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - open mic poetry
8:00 - featured mic poet
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007 -
Open Mic Poetry and Featured Poet
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - open mic poetry
8:00 - featured mic poet
- Tuesday, January 8, 2008 -
Open Mic Poetry and Featured Poet
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - open mic poetry
8:00 - featured mic poet
- Tuesday, February 12, 2008 -
Open Mic Poetry and Featured Poet
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - open mic poetry
8:00 - featured mic poet
- Tuesday, March 11, 2008 -
Poetry Slam Competition
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - poetry slam
- Tuesday, April 8, 2008 -
Open Mic Poetry and Featured Poet
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - open mic poetry
8:00 - featured mic poet
- Friday, April 25, 2008 -
Student Poetry Competition Awards Dinner
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and catered refreshments
7:15 - student's read award-winning poetry and receive prizes
- Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - Open Mic Poetry and Featured Poet
at Fairfield Community Arts Center
6:30 - live music and refreshments
7:15 - open mic poetry
8:00 - featured mic poet
Special Events
Riverbank Poetry has hosted a number of internationally acclaimed poets over the years including:
Anne Waldman,
Ray McNeice,
Gordon Ball,
The Beat Museum on Wheels
For our 2008-2009 season we are tentatively planning an exhibit which includes displaying the
original scroll of Jack Kerouac’s revolutionary book, "On theRoad" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Road]
This manuscript recently sold at auction for $2.4 million dollars and is currently on tour in the United States.
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Open Mic Poetry & Featured Poets
Our mainstay event encourages poets of all ages and ability levels to step up to the microphone and let
their words flow. We also bring in distinguished local poets to perform their poetry and show how they
make magic at the mic. Additionally, we provide live musical entertainment and snacks & beverages to warm
up the crowd before the poetry begins. This free event occurs on the second Tuesday of the month during
September, October, November, January, February, April, and May. Music and snacks begin at 6:30 p.m,
featured poet at 7:15 p.m., and open mic poetry at 8:00 p.m.
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Poet Laureate
Slammin’ John Kraimer -
Riverbank Poet Laureate
The Poet Laureate is available, at no charge, to perform at your school or civic event. He is sure to entertain all!
John Kraimer, aka “Slammin’ John”, is a poetry performer, musician, magician, artist, and past Riverbank Poetry Slam champion. His animated stage presence and unique perspective on life provide for an event that is engaging and entertaining. Whether performing or lecturing, he is able to tailor his presentation to appeal to all ages and settings. Simply standing at a podium and reading poetry is not what Slammin’ John is known for. He is likely to produce a bizarre prop, utilize a planted heckler in the audience, incorporate music, magic or comedy into the routine, and in general, keep listeners on their toes wondering what surprise may follow next. Get ready to see poetry turned on its side. A performance by Slammin’ John is anything but ordinary!
Slammin’ John performs as a community service of the Riverbank Poetry Project. As such, there is no fee for his services, although donations to Riverbank Poetry are accepted and used for future programming. For more information contact:
John Kraimer
6641 Woodland Trace Court
Middletown, OH 45044
telephone: (513) 755-2427
e-mail: john.kraimer@uc.edu
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Student Poetry Competition
Each Spring the Riverbank Poetry Project holds a student poetry competition to encourage young people's interest in poetry and writing, and to recognize young writers' efforts. There are four different grade/age categories:
- 3rd and 4th grades
- 5th and 6th grades
- 7th, 8th and 9th grades
- 10th, 11th and 12th grades
Our distinguished panel of judges selects three prizes plus five honorable mentions in each category. Riverbank Poetry also hosts an awards banquet for the winners and their families.
- Guidelines for Competition
- one entry allowed per student
- send 2 copies of your poem
- must be an original work written by the student
- must be TYPED on 8.5 x 11 paper in black ink
- entries must be received no later than Tuesday, February 27, 2008 to qualify
- originals can not be returned - please make a copy for your own file
- deadline for entry is Tuesday, February 26, 2008
- teachers are encouraged to submit on behalf of their class.
The following information must appear on the back of each copy of your poem.
Additionally it must be TYPED.
Click Here for Word Document
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:___________________________________________ Age:______ Grade:________
Telephone Number:_______________________________________________________
Home Address:_____________________________________________________________
Home City, State, Zip:_______________________________________________________
School Name:_______________________________________________________________
School Address:___________________________________________________________
School City, State, Zip:_____________________________________________________
School Phone:______________________________________________________________
Teacher's Name:____________________________________________________________
Name Of Poem:______________________________________________________________
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please submit entries to:
John Kraimer
6641 Woodland Trace Court
Middletown, Ohio 45044
Telephone: (513) 755-2427
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Poet-in-Residence
John P. Kurlas -
Poet-in-Residence Program
Distinguished local poets are sent to area high school and middle schools for a full day or two of teaching and performing poetry. The poets work with the teachers to develop a program that might include:
- teaching students by using various exercises on writing and creativity
- facilitating an open mic reading or student poetry slam
- poetry performances in the classroom or on the stage
Thanks to our generous sponsors there is no fee charged to the schools for this program.
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Poetry Slam
Poetry Slam – This high-energy poetry competition is open to the public and judged by randomly
selected audience members. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners and there is no entry fee required.
It is held the second Tuesday in March with live music and snacks at 6:30 p.m. and the poetry slam
at 7:15.
To learn more about the exciting “poetry slam” format try the links below or simply enter those words into your internet search engine.
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Sponsors & Links
Poets & Poetry Organizations
Benjamin Hughes
InkTank
Matt Hart
Riverbank Poetry Sponsors
Special thanks to our sponsors for their generous support of Riverbank Poetry programs and the community at large.
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