The foundation participates in community arts and culture projects that will provide the opportunity to showcase the works Michigan poetry and in particular the poetry of the current and past poet laureates and poets of the Upper Peninsula. Contact us if you are interested in collaborating on a project for your community.
Poetry Slam
The Honorable Distillery 136 W. Washington St.
Signup 7:30 pm Competition 8:00 pm
Tell us about love or lack of love. Bring on your words! See rules below. Prizes for winners. Cheer on your favorites. Bring home bouquets with a donation to the U.P. Poet Laureate Foundation.
Words Like Water – Art Week 2022 June 20-25th
In conjunction with the City of Marquette Art Week 2022 theme of “Water”, the Foundation created a public art project: 5 signs on the city’s Cultural Trail. Each sign will have art by U.P. artist, Christopher Schmidt and a poem by poets Kimberly Blaeser, Michelle Menting, Margaret Noodin, Keith Taylor or the current Upper Peninsula Poet Laureate, M. Bartley Seigel. This activity is supported by the MICHIGAN ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL administered by Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development and the with additional support by Superior Watershed Partnership, the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and the Superiorland Library Cooperative.
Past Projects
Great Lakes Poetry Festival
Tuesday April 5 7 PM
Poetry Reading by the current Poet Laureate of the U.P. – M. Bartley Seigel and the past laureates: Martin Achatz, Andrea Scarpino and Russell Thorburn. Peter White Public Library Community Room.
Dec. 2021 U.P. Poet Laureate M. Bartley Seigel and previous laureates: Martin Achatz and Andrea Scarpino joined the Marquette Poets Circle by sharing poems on a “Talking Winter Poet Tree” at Peter White Library’s Winter Wonderland. Visitors to the tree could scan red tags and hear the poets read their poems.
The Poet Laureate of Michigan's Upper Peninsula 