NORFOLK, Neb. – Several well-known poets and writers from across the region will read from their works during a special two-day event to be held in Norfolk and Wayne in November.
The Northeast Community College Visiting Writers Series and Wayne State College’s Plains Writers Series are partnering to sponsor the Nebraska Poetry Festival on Wed. and Thur., Nov. 16 and 17, on the institution’s respective campuses in Norfolk and Wayne.
“Post-pandemic, it’s more important than ever to embrace the arts, promote the spoken word, and reconnect,” said Bonnie Johnson-Bartee, English instructor at Northeast. “It seems the perfect time to have an event of this scale and to bring people together to celebrate Nebraska poets and poetry.”
Johnson-Bartee and Chad Christensen, professor of English at Wayne State College, are coordinating the event.
Featured poets and writers schedule to attend the Nebraska Poetry Festival are Lin Brummels, JV Brummels, Michael Catherwood, Chad Christensen, Twyla Hansen, Neil Harrison, Greg Kosmicki, Kira Letcher, Stephanie Marcellus, Matt Mason, Gailmarie Pahmeier, Todd Robinson, Marjorie Saiser, Mark Sanders, Barbara Schmitz, Shyla Shehan, Michael Skau, William Trowbridge, Kelly Weber, Rich Wyatt, Scott Abels, and Bonnie Bartee.
Abels is a Northeast English instructor. Harrison and Schmitz are former English instructors at Northeast.
The Nebraska Poetry Festival will be held Wed., Nov. 16, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in Northeast Community College’s Union 73. The event continues Thur., Nov. 17, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in Wayne State College’s Gardner Hall. The festival will wrap up with a Poetry Slam on Nov. 17 at Max’s Bar and Grill in Wayne.
“Chad and I are grateful to have this phenomenal group of writers converge on our campuses. This is a wonderful opportunity for local communities to come together to celebrate the art of poetry,” Johnson-Bartee said.
For more information on the Nebraska Poetry Festival, visit wscpress.com or contact Johnson-Bartee at bonnie@northeast.edu or Christensen at chchris1@wsc.edu.
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