Events

KSPS offers a year-round slate of poetry programs that bring writers and readers together through readings, open mics, and craft-focused events.

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2026 Programs & Events

Our 2026 programming includes monthly readings, open mics, craft talks, and a special book club series led by the Poet Laureate. Most events run February through October, with our annual conference in November and no scheduled events in December. Additional details and registration links will be added as schedules are finalized.

All event graphics include a QR code that links directly to individual event registrations. Check this page for updated schedules, series information, and new event announcements.

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Featured Reading + Open Mic Series

Our Featured Reading + Open Mic Series showcases established and emerging poets through featured readings followed by an open mic. These virtual gatherings offer an opportunity to hear outstanding contemporary work and share your own poetry in a welcoming community setting.

Schedule: Second Tuesday of each month (January–October)
Time: 6:30–8:00 PM ET
Location: Zoom

Upcoming Session

Featured Reading with Joe Survant

Date: Tuesday, May 12
Time: 6:30–8:00 PM ET
Location: Zoom

Session Overview: Each event in the Featured Reading + Open Mic Series begins with a reading by an established or emerging poet, offering attendees the opportunity to experience a range of contemporary voices and styles. Following the featured reading, participants are invited to share their own work during the open mic portion of the program.

Joe Survant is Professor Emeritus at Western Kentucky University. He is the author of eight collections of poems, most recently, The Stone (Accents Publishing, 2026). He is the winner of the Miller Williams Poetry Prize from the University of Arkansas Press and a recipient of grants from the Kentucky Arts Council, The Asia Foundation, the Fulbright Foundation, and the NEH. Individual poems have been published in Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore and the U.K., as well as in the U.S. He served as Kentucky’s Poet Laureate 2002 – 2004.

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Craft Talk / Workshop Series

Our Craft Talk / Workshop Series features interactive sessions focused on craft, creative process, and professional development for writers. Each session offers practical insight, guided exploration, and conversation with experienced poets and literary professionals.

Schedule: Fourth Wednesday of select months
Time: 6:30–8:30 PM ET (some sessions may conclude earlier)
Location: Zoom

Upcoming Session

Date: Wednesday, May 27
Time: 6:30–8:30 PM ET

Author Announcement Coming Soon!

Session details and featured writer will be announced soon. Please check back for updates and registration information.

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Reading Kentucky Poets

Led by current Kentucky Poet Laureate Kathleen Driskell, this series offers guided discussion and close reading of poetry by writers connected to Kentucky. Participants engage deeply with selected poems while exploring craft, context, and interpretation in a supportive virtual setting.

Schedule: Select dates annually
Time: 6:30–8:00 PM ET
Location: Zoom
Total Sessions: 5

Upcoming Session

Date: Wednesday, April 22
Time: 6:30–8:00 PM ET
Location: Zoom

Session Overview: In the next KSPS session of Reading Kentucky Poets with Kathleen Driskell, our esteemed Kentucky Poet Laureate will zoom into poems by Maureen Morehead, Keith S. Wilson, David Cazden and Danni Quintos. Join us online on April 22nd at 6:30pm EST. 

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Looking for a regular spot to share your work or hear local voices?

From open mics to writing workshops, Kentucky has a growing calendar of recurring poetry events happening every month. Explore our roundup of ongoing events across the state—and if we’re missing one, let us know!