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GWP values the voice of St. Louis area youth! We invite students throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area to contribute art & poetry to be published in a collection that recognizes the amazing talents of the students in our region.

The Ekphrastic Poetry Project began as a celebration of National Poetry Month and has evolved into a collaborative project for St. Louis artists and writers.

What is an Ekphrastic Poem?

An ekphrastic poem focuses on a work of art --- in our project, paintings and drawings --- and the poet's reaction to it. The writing might include vivid description, an interpretation of the piece, an inhabiting of the piece, a memory incited by the piece, a conversation with an animate or inanimate object in the piece, a comparison/contrast to another piece, a real or imagined account of what others viewing the piece are thinking, etc. The poet can focus on the entire piece, or just on one (or more) part, or aspect, of the piece. The writing can be complimentary and glowing --- or critical and suggestive of improvement. Creativity and individual thinking and writing reign. Any style of poem is fine.

22-23 Project Information & FLYER

August 2022, art collection begins including: sculptures, photographs, paintings and drawings. Submissions should be well-thought out pieces that are finished and print ready. 12 submissions will be chosen from our local student artists for the poetry project. GWP will make the art accessible and distribute to St. Louis area schools to inspire student writing for our April publication.

Find more information

 22-23 Deadlines

  • October 21, 2022, art collection deadline

  • November 2022, artwork dispersed to schools & writing begins

  • March 2023, submissions deadline

  • April 2023, collection published & celebration!


Please email Cathy O'Brien with any questions, comments, concerns