Dallas to Transform Streets into Poetry Canvases with Sidewalk Project
Dallas is set to adorn its streets with poetry, thanks to the Sidewalk Poetry Project. This community-driven initiative, a collaboration between The Dallas Morning News, KERA, and local arts enthusiasts, aims to celebrate diversity and inclusion through verse. North Texans with a Dallas connection can submit poems until 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, with selected works to be immortalized in 28 city locations.
The project, launched by Dallas Poet Laureate Mag Gabbert, seeks poems that reflect personal experiences with Dallas neighborhoods. Submissions can be in any language, provided an English translation is included. Selected poets will receive a $150 honorarium and see their work stamped into city sidewalks, starting in January. The selection process, involving local poets, city staff, and Public Art Committee members, will take place over the next few months.
Poems must adhere to a 2-1 form and be suitable for all ages. The initiative is funded by various organizations, including the Better Together Fund and The Meadows Foundation, with the goal of addressing past erasures and promoting equity and inclusion.
The Sidewalk Poetry Project invites Dallas residents to share their stories and experiences through poetry. With submissions open until Nov. 7, this is an opportunity for North Texans to leave their mark on the city and bring poetry to everyday life in Dallas.
