Mission

Bay Area Poetry celebrates the rich diversity of voices found throughout the Bay Area through free, open-to-the-public festivals, workshops, readings and the lifetime achievement award for excellence in social activism, with a commitment to elevating the voices of BIPOC & LGBTQI+ poets.

About

Poets recognized and honored represent a broad range of community poets, new and emerging as well as more established voices who make up the heart of the bay area’s literary community. Part of the festival's magic is the celebration of community and writers that recognizes poets who are making the world a better place, which means that a high school student who is an LGBTQI+ activist can read alongside a California Poet Laureate.

We host spaces that make room for community members to be part of the program and we celebrate and encourage interdisciplinary artist collaborations.

The festival was founded in 1988 by Louis Cuneo, and in 2013 Sharon Coleman and MK Chavez became co-directors with a mission to bring equity, inclusion, and belonging into the heart of the event. In 2026, Sharon transitioned the Chair of the Board, and MK Chavez became the first Executive Director.

Our commitment is to bring attention to the voices of poets who change the world with their words and work.

Most of our programming remains free and fully accessible, and near transportation, and virtual options to ensure that as many community members can participate and celebrate poetry.