Kansas Arts Commission

Dr. Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
Poet Laureate of Kansas, FY 2010 - 2011

Dr. Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
Contact Information

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
1357 N. 1000 Road
Lawrence, KS 66046
carynmirriamgoldberg@gmail.com

Poet Laureate FAQ

Kansas Arts on Tour Roster Term:
FY 2010-2011

County:
Douglas

Program Type:
Workshops, Lectures, Readings

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Ph.D., is the 2009-2011 Poet Laureate of Kansas. Her career as a poet, fiction and non-fiction writer, teacher, mentor, and facilitator focuses on how literature can help us live more meaningful and vibrant lives. As founder of Transformative Language Arts, she also values social and personal transformation through the spoken, written and sung word.

Dr. Mirriam-Goldberg has three books forthcoming in 2009: Landed (poetry, Mammoth Publications), The Sky Begins At Your Feet (a memoir on cancer, community and ecology, Ice Cube Press), and My Tree of Life: Writing and Living with Serious Illness (anthology, Turning Point of Kansas City, which she is editing). The author of seven other books, including three collections of poetry, the award-winning Write Where You Are, and editor of The Power of Words: A Transformative Language Arts Reader, her poetry and prose has been published in over 50 literary journals and anthologies. Founder of Transformative Language Arts at Goddard College, where she teaches in the low-residency Individualized MA Program, Dr. Mirriam-Goldberg has extensive experience facilitating writing workshops for many populations, and giving readings and presentations. She also offers writing and singing workshops and performances with singer-songwriter Kelley Hunt through their business, Brave Voice.

Dr. Mirriam-Goldberg received her Ph.D. and MA from the University of Kansas (poetry, women's studies, mythology), and she is certified in grassroots organizing from the Midwest Academy, and poetry therapy from the National Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy. She is the recipient of Kansas Arts Fellowship in Poetry, the Rocky Mountain National Park artist-in-residency, the City of Lawrence Phoenix Award, and other honors. Websites: http://www.carynmirriamgoldberg.com/, www.BraveVoice.com, www.CarynMirriamGoldberg.wordpress.com, www.goddard.edu/carynmirriamgoldberg.

Program Description

Poetry Across Kansas -- Reading and Writing Our Way Home: The Poet Laureate project, Writing Across Kansas, strengthens the presence of poetry in Kansas, builds literary communities statewide, and enhances Kansans' sense of place through poetry. The project brings together new and emerging to create original poems and make community with one another through writing workshops and ongoing poetry circles (facilitated by local citizens who receive facilitator training and ongoing support through the project). The components of the project are:

  • Reading and Writing Ourselves Home Poetry Workshops: This writing workshop, open to teens and adults, helps people discover their own best poetry, and how reading and writing poetry can add greater meaning to their lives and communities. Each workshop, tailored to community needs and interests, draws on Kansas poets for discussion, reflection, study of craft and as writing prompts.

  • Poetry Circles: One of the greatest gifts for any writer, whether new or experienced, is community with others who value the written word. To facilitate ongoing Poetry Circles in each community where she leads a writing workshop, Mirriam-Goldberg provides facilitator training (including a resource book of materials and ongoing on-line support) for writers, educators, health professionals, librarians, and others in each community who are interested in leading (or co-leading) Poetry Circles.

  • Reading: Along with the writing workshop and poetry circle training and support, Dr. Mirriam-Goldberg will also present a reading of her work, which can also be a joint reading with workshop participants and/or local poets.

Other Program Offerings

  • Readings: Mirriam-Goldberg also is available for poetry, memoir and fiction readings of her own work wherever she travels. Readings may range from 20 – 90 minutes in length, and may be combined with a community reading of other writers in the community.

  • Presentation-Workshops: Presentations, which combine a talk and short writing workshop, are available on a wide variety of topics, such as:

    • Writing from the Earth: Poetry and Sense of Place

    • The Care and Feeding of the Writer: Sustaining Yourself in Your Craft

    • Writing, Readings and Performance: Getting Your Work Out There

    • The Spirit of Words: Writing as  Life Practice

    • Writing and Living Through Serious Illness

    • Arts-Based Workshop Facilitation

    • Writing Your New Story: Mythology and Poetry

Program Fees

  • Poetry Across Kansas -- Reading and Writing Ourselves Home: $1,000 (includes writing workshop, reading, writing circle leader training, and ongoing support for writing circles)

  • Readings: $350 - $500 (depending on length)

  • Presentations: $500

  • Both a reading and presentation in one day: $700

  • Mileage and meals for all travel; lodging if beyond 70 miles.

Technical Requirements

  • Room set-up depends on specific program, but no specific AV equipment needed in most cases.

 
National Endowment for the Arts
Kansas Arts Commission | 700 SW Jackson, Suite 1004 | Topeka, Kansas 66603-3774
Toll Free in Kansas: 866/433-0688 | Phone: 785/296-3335
Fax: 785/296-4989 | Email:
State of Kansas | Copyright 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

 

This page was updated 11/18/09.