Below is a list of the PSNY submission opportunities currently available! But we are always experimenting with new programs and initiatives, so be sure to follow us here on Submittable or over on Instagram to stay up to date on other PSNY submission opportunities as they come up.
The Poetry Society of New York is seeking interns for Summer 2024! Internship tasks can be tailored around your interests whether those interests are in event production, marketing or PR, fundraising and development, editorial work, or elsewhere. All internships are unpaid, but they can be done for college credit, or through paid programs through your university (we've collaborated with programs like this through Smith College, Sarah Lawrence, and more!). We encourage those with any of the following qualifications to apply:
- Hands-on mentality; self-motivated, intuitive, & independent worker
- Strong artistic aesthetic & attention to detail
- Ability to work remotely & during nonstandard business hours
- Demonstrated familiarity with and enthusiasm for poetry, literature, theater, and performance art
- Experience using Eventbrite, Canva, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Submittable, Squarespace, Quickbooks, Shopify, and/or Google Workspace
This Summer, we're seeking help with any of the following positions:
- NYC Poetry Festival Production
- Development & Grant Research
- Marketing
- Social Media
- PR
In your cover letter, please specify which position you're most interested in.
In 2022, we at The Poetry Society of New York lost a dynamic, hilarious, and crucial member of our community: Jane Brinkley, PSNY’s former intern with a propensity for typewriters, yellow flowers, and riské art. She was not only a vital component to the 2021 New York City Poetry Festival, without whom it would not have been possible; she was a performer, poet, songbird, and a dear friend.
Every year, PSNY offers the Jane Brinkley Fellowship in her memory. Over the span of 10 weeks, an undergraduate college student chosen out of our application field has the chance to work one-on-one with the widely published and highly-regarded poet, CAConrad. This mentorship coincides with our limited-capacity, MFA-grade Virtual Summer Intensive—to which they receive a full scholarship—and culminates in The New York City Poetry Festival, at which they are able to read on the festival’s main stage. With weekly meetings to guide them, PSNY’s fellow finishes their fellowship with a submission-ready chapbook or an equally thrilling, completed interdisciplinary project (which, if they so desire, they can showcase on festival grounds).
This fellowship will last from May 27th to September 6th. The awardee will receive $1000. To make our decision as equitable as possible, our fellow will be chosen on a completely blind basis; that being said, BIPOC, queer, and gender non-conforming folks are especially encouraged to apply. All applicants must be devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion, not take themselves too seriously, and have a profound love for weird and wonderful poetry.
Please include your application:
- A sample of 5-7 pages of poetry
- A brief, one-page project proposal
- Your resume or CV
BIPOC Creatives: apply to teach a Free Verse workshop today!
The Poetry Society of New York's Monthly Free Poetry Workshops for BIPOC Creatives—also known as our Free Verse Initiative—are workshops taught by and for Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color with an interest in poetry. We invite folks to connect in this safe, generative, BIPOC-centered space: to share work, experiences, and discourse. At the end of every workshop, we welcome the sharing of resources, such as literature, community events, and grants available for application. Respectfully and consensually connecting with other members outside of the space is encouraged.
This community space is designed specifically for the BIPOC experience, and as such is only open to members of the BIPOC community. Attendees of our Monthly Free Workshops for BIPOC Creatives receive a 50% off discount code for our Weekly Virtual Workshops!
Thank you for your interest in applying to become a cast member of The Poetry Brothel. Artists from underrepresented communities are in particular encouraged to apply.
In your application, you will need to include your professional name; a cover letter; the city where you reside, a link to your website, portfolio, or Instagram page; your character name & bio (this need not contain any factual or professional information); at least one headshot or other photo of yourself; and an audition video. If you are applying to be one of the poets, please also include 5 pages of your poetry as a PDF.
In your cover letter, we encourage you to explain your interest in The Poetry Brothel and your background as an artist and performer. If you have any experience working in the sex industry, please also feel safe to mention it here.
The audition video should be between 30 seconds and 5 minutes. Feel free to shoot the video on your iPhone; we don't need anything professionally produced. We simply want to get a sense of your personality, style, and voice while seeing a little bit of what you do. If you are a poet, perform a poem! If you are a dancer, we'd love to see a routine. If you are a singer, sing for us. If you read tarot, show us a sample reading.
Good luck, and we look forward to exploring your work!