

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Gathering of Poets Laureate : Poets Building Community
- **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 29 Jan, 2026 at 05:00 pm – Thu, 29 Jan, 2026 at 07:00 pm
- **Event Description**: On behalf of the City of Minneapolis – Arts &amp; Cultural Affairs, the Loft Literary Center and The Great Northern, you are invited to the inaugural Gathering of Poets Laureate on January 29. Experience Minnesota’s voices in an unforgettable evening as current and former Poets Laureate from across our state come together to share their work and celebrate the power of the written and spoken word.

This event is the culminating public program of Minneapolis Poet Laureate Junauda Petrus’s 2025–2026 laureate year. Conversation will be guided by Petrus’s central question “What does community look like for you?” Poets Laureate will share original poems and reflect on the civic and cultural work they carry into their communities. The evening will weave together art, storytelling, and public purpose, offering a rare glimpse into how poets help shape the places we call home.

Join us for a powerful evening of poetry, connection, and celebration at Open Book! Minneapolis Poet Laureate Junauda Petrus and fellow Poets Laureate Gwen Westerman (Minnesota State), Heid E. Erdrich (City of Minneapolis), Jean Prokott (Rochester), Joyce Sutphen (Minnesota State), Donte Collins (St.Paul) will share moving readings and reflections.  We will also take a moment to recognize Andrea Jenkins for her contributions as a poet and her pivotal role in establishing the Minneapolis Poet Laureate position (City Council Member 2017-2025).

All are welcome to gather, listen, and take part in this memorable literary event.

Date: Thursday, January 29 

Time: 5 - 7 p.m.

Doors will open at 4:30 pm. Registration does not guarantee you a seat in the main performance space, and space will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basic. Please plan to arrive early. There will be a streamed overflow room.

Location: Open Book Performance Hall, 1101 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis MN, 55415

Cost: RSVP, Free to attend
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/minneapolis/gathering-of-poets-laureate-poets-building-community/200029399720957
- **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, spoken-word, storytelling
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 309

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://loft.org/events/poets-building-community-gathering-poets-laureate?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=minneapolis-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Minneapolis
- **state**: MN
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Open Book Performance Hall, 1101 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis MN, 55415
- **lat**: 44.97497
- **long**: -93.25314
- **full address**: Open Book Performance Hall, 1101 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis MN, 55415, 1101 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415-2300, United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs (https://allevents.in/org/minneapolis-arts-and-cultural-affairs/26222033)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/3b499b5c4a4d19cdb2076e4eeef2d413b1c5e7bb71e498400fbde3a0c96002ac-rimg-w1200-h630-dceef6f0-gmir?v=1768415155
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/4383e64d3af921d5ab08ac79aac308e45394475304dfa71f7cb3b615883a8c32-rimg-w300-h300-dcedf5f0-gmir?v=1768415155

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Thu, 29 Jan, 2026 at 05:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Open Book Performance Hall, 1101 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis MN, 55415, 1101 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55415-2300, United States
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** art, literary-art, spoken-word, storytelling
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Gathering of Poets Laureate : Poets Building Community ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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