Links

The Lannan Foundation
Lannan Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to cultural freedom, diversity and creativity through projects which support exceptional contemporary artists and writers, as well as inspired Native activists in rural indigenous communities… The Literary program was established in 1987 to support the creation of exceptional poetry and prose written originally in the English language and to increase the audience for contemporary literature. The foundation honors writers and poets whose work reflects and changes our understanding of the world as well as literary nonprofit organizations that have similar goals.

The Caine Prize
The Caine Prize for African Writing, also known as the “African Booker” was established in memory of the late Sir Michael Caine, former Chairman of Booker plc., who wished to draw attention to the richness and diversity of African writing in English. In addition to a cash-prize, the Caine Prize winner receives a month-long residency at the GU English Department, sponsored by Lannan Center.

DC Poetry

Bridge Street Books
Bridge Street Books is an independent bookstore in Washington, DC. Opened in 1980, it specializes in Politics, Poetry, Philosophy, Film, and Cultural Studies, with excellent selections in several other areas.

Busboys and Poets
Busboys and Poets is proud to be a venue that provides space and support for poets and spoken word performers to showcase their work through its Busboys and Poetry programming. The 14th and V St location hosts everything from their “Sunday Kind of Love” poetry series to high intensity Open Mic Poetry on Tuesdays.

DC Poetry.com
DCPoetry.com exists primarily to promote three readings series in Washington, DC: Ruthless Grip at Washington Printmakers Gallery, in your ear at the D.C. Arts Center, and Bridge Street Books. The site also attempts to document some of the history of alternative or non-mainstream poetry activity in D.C. by gathering already-existing information and new contributions from those who were and are involved in the scene.

KramerBooks & Afterwords
Opened in 1976, KramersBooks is a poetry-friendly bookstore that offers live entertainment and excellent food.

Politics and Prose
Politics and Prose is a D.C. based business devoted to cultivating community and strengthening the common good through books, programs, and a respectful exchange of ideas. 

Split This Rock
Split This Rock cultivates, teaches, and celebrates poetry that bears witness to injustice and provokes social change. It calls poets to a greater role in public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. Building the audience for poetry of provocation and witness from their home in the nation’s capital, they celebrate poetic diversity and the transformative power of the imagination.

Word Beats & Life
Words Beats & Life began as a Hip-Hop conference at the University of Maryland in the fall of 2000. The founders worked to create a vehicle to propel individual lives and communities through Hip-Hop. Today, Words Beats & Life uses a holistic approach to youth and community development that involves Hip-Hop artists, scholars, educators, activists, and allies.

DC Cultural Centers

Folger Shakespeare Library
The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is a world-class research center on Shakespeare and on the early modern age in the West. The Folger is known for its wide array of scholarly and public programs, including plays, concerts, literary readings, family activities, and exhibitions, as well as numerous K-12 and college programs for students and teachers. The Folger and Lannan Center partner annual to sponsor the Lannan Fellows program.

National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is the sixteenth museum of the Smithsonian Institution. It is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. Established by an act of Congress in 1989, the museum works in collaboration with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic expression, and empowering the Indian voice.

The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 130 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The Library’s mission is to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.