Richard Blanco and Laura McDermott Matheric. {CSFOA}
By Sharon Aron Baron
The Coral Springs Festival of the Arts has announced its 2024 Festival Literary Event, a highly anticipated Poetry Workshop featuring esteemed poets Richard Blanco and Laura McDermott Matheric.
Held on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs, the workshop promises an enriching experience for poetry enthusiasts and aspiring poets alike.
Richard Blanco, celebrated for his role as the inaugural poet appointed by former President Obama, and Laura McDermott Matheric, the first Poet Laureate of Coconut Creek, will lead the workshop.
Participants will have the unique opportunity to submit their poems for evaluation by these distinguished poets, with the top submissions being awarded monetary prizes of $250 for first place and $100 for second place.
The first-place winner will also earn the title of The Coral Springs Festival of the Arts Poet Laureate, a prestigious recognition to be awarded during the festival on March 17.
Blanco’s illustrious career is marked by his historic role as the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet in U.S. history, making him the youngest and the first Latinx, immigrant, and openly gay person to receive this honor.
His poetry, celebrated for exploring themes of identity, belonging, and home, reflects his unique life experiences, from his birth in Madrid to Cuban exile parents to his upbringing in a working-class family in Miami. His contributions to literature were further recognized in 2023 when President Biden awarded him the National Humanities Medal.
Laura McDermott Matheric, a Florida native with a rich background in creative writing, business, and education, has significantly contributed to her community’s literary and cultural landscape.
Her appointment as Coconut Creek’s first Poet Laureate in 2022 underscored her dedication to fostering growth in education, the arts, and community engagement.
Her work, including her first book of poetry, “Visions on Alligator Alley,” explores the interplay between verse and visual art, drawing inspiration from local art exhibits to tell stories through poetry.
Admission is free, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit the Coral Springs Festival of the Arts.
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