*Deadline extended to Monday, September 25 @ 9am

2024 O, Miami Poetry Festival Open Call

Miami is a poem we write together.

Everyone’s invited to submit an idea for the 2024 O, Miami Poetry Festival!  

About O, Miami

We believe Miami is the most poetic city in the world. Through our annual festival, education programs, and civic publishing, we create a platform for amplifying Miami’s people, investing in a new shared narrative of our city and a more equitable picture of its future. We believe that art and self-expression should be equally available to every Miamian. 

With generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the annual O, Miami Poetry Festival is our original and signature program. Now in its 13th year, the goal has always been for every person in Miami-Dade County to encounter a poem during the month of April. Built largely through this Open Call, the festival is a celebration of Miami and its people. Learn more: www.omiami.org.

What kind of ideas are we looking for?

We are looking for ideas that amplify poetry and engage Miamians in surprising ways. If you have a proposal that creates poetry, invites poetic encounters, or shares poetry across Miami, we’d love to read it! All projects must premiere in April 2024. 

Here are some examples of projects we’ve supported:

Civic Publishing: Projects that collect poetry by Miamians then broadcast that work into the community through books, public art, and digital platforms.

Examples: My Home, Mi Hogar, Invisible Threads / Strong Ties

Random Acts of Poetry: Projects that surprise people with poetry where and when they least expect it:

Poetry Parking Tickets

Performance: Projects that highlight local talent in new and unexpected ways: 

Open Mic Night at Super Wheels, Drag Poetry Slam

Artist Driven Projects: Projects driven by artists who work in other creative fields:

Portrait at 34, Journey in Phrase

Site Specific Projects: Projects inspired by the history, geography, or architecture of a specific location: 

Poetry in the Pitayas, Everyone’s an Island 

Workshops: A workshop or series, irl or virtual, that generates poetry inspired by a compelling idea, theme, or space:

Conjuring Spirits, Writing with Water, Sopa de Letras

Archival Projects: Projects that dig into O, Miami’s poetry archive and share gems found there: 

Brl Odes

Poetry for Kids: Projects that inspire the next generation of poets: 

Poetry in Pajamas, Chain Letters 

Collaborations with local arts organizations: Poems at the Symphony

Collaborations for social change: Arbor Odes, Poetry for Preservation

Collaborations with local businesses, brands, and products: Student Ice Cream Series, Sweet Surprises
 

Surprise us! We are always open to new ideas for sharing the joy of poetry across Miami. 

*Please note that we are not looking for projects that showcase your own poetry, readings that center a particular poet or poets, or traditional publishing projects.

How will we work together?

Selected projects will be developed closely in partnership with O, Miami to ensure delivery on time, within budget, and in the spirit of the Poetry Festival. 

Selected applicants (“Project Managers”) are responsible for project delivery in full. To ensure the success of all projects, we ask for: a collaborative spirit, timely communication, availability for virtual and irl meetings, and an understanding of how your project fits into the Poetry Festival as a whole. 

O, Miami will provide ample support, which will be determined by the needs of each project and project manager. This support may include: funding, ideation, poetry curation, poet liaising, lesson plans, project planning, timelines, logistics, budgeting, locations, site visits, supplies, materials, design, promotion, ticketing, event support, documentation, and anything else needed to bring your idea to life.

How to submit an idea:

Submit an idea here! The application is available in Miami’s common languages: English, Spanish, and Creole. If your project involves technology, you may also consider applying to Technically Poetic, our new commission for artists, here. Stay tuned for details about our upcoming info sessions!

Proposals are due by 6pm on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. All proposals will be reviewed by the O, Miami team, and applicants will be notified by November 1, 2023. Project development will begin in November 2023. All projects must premiere in April 2024. Project wrap should be completed by May 31, 2024.

Applicants do not need to live in Miami, but all projects must engage with Miami’s communities in a respectful, authentic, and purposeful way. 

O, Miami welcomes ideas from everyone! If you are excited about collaborating with us and believe you can deliver a valuable project, we encourage you to submit a proposal. Our work is an act of love for this city, inviting Miamians to share their stories and write a new one together.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Monica Peña, Programs Director, monica@omiami.org.