WORDS / ARKANSAS ARTS COUNCIL

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Arkansas Arts Council are pleased to announce an open call for original poetry by Arkansas poets who are willing to recite on stage.

Poets can submit original works until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, by visiting Mosaic Templars Cultural Center at 501 W. 9th St. in Little Rock or by emailing Community Liaison Brian Rodgers at Brian.Rodgers@arkansas.gov. Artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to submit original poetry.

All poetry should be related to Black history. Winning poems will be performed by the authoring poets during a special livestream spoken-word showcase, called “Figuratively Speaking,” which will air at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.

Chosen spoken-word artists will be compensated for their time. The performance will be featured on Facebook Live as part of MTCC programs for Black History Month. Performing artists must socially distance during their performances, which will be held on the MTCC ballroom stage. Masks will be required when not performing.

Poems cannot contain profanity, must relate to Black history and will be chosen by a committee at MTCC.

All submissions should include the poet’s name, a paragraph about the artist and contact information, including a phone number and email address. Submissions also may be done via video that shows the artist’s spoken-word poetry skills. Video submissions may be made via DropBox, GoogleDrive or YouTube.

For more information, contact MTCC at 501-683-3593 or email Brian.Rodgers@Arkansas.gov. For more information about the Arkansas Arts Council, contact scarlet.sims@arkansas.gov.

About Mosaic Templars Cultural Center 

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a museum of Arkansas Heritage, is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating African American history and culture in Arkansas. Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas State Archives, Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum and Old State House Museum are also parts of Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

About the Arkansas Arts Council 

The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, advances the arts in Arkansas by providing services and supporting arts endeavors that encourage and assist literary, performing and visual artists in achieving standards of professional excellence. In addition, the Arkansas Arts Council provides technical and financial assistance to Arkansas arts organizations and other providers of cultural and educational programs. Other agencies are the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas State Archives, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Old State House Museum. Funding for the Arkansas Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Arkansas and the National Endowment for the Arts. Arkansas Heritage is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.