The Arlington Arts Center, a leading contemporary arts space, is pleased to announce its new bilingual poetry series, In Two Tongues/ En dos lenguas.  The program includes three poetry readings in English and in Spanish, as well as master classes for emerging poets.

Program dates are April 4 (as a kick-off to National Poetry Month), June 1, and September 28, 2006.  Each reading will feature two master poets living in the United States plus emerging poets residing in the Mid-Atlantic region.  This program will bring together established voices and new talent while expanding the understanding and appreciation of the spoken word through translation.

The Arlington Arts Center invites emerging poets in the Mid-Atlantic region to submit their poetry for consideration by a review panel of four professional poets and art critics.  Selected poets will be invited to participate in a master class with two established poets and will be featured at one of the poetry readings.  In addition, they will have their work published in the 2006 In Two Tongues / En dos lenguas anthology posted on the Arlington Arts Center’s website.  A select number of applicants will be invited to have their work published in George Mason University's bilingual journal Hispanic Culture Review.  This program is made possible through the generosity of the Arlington Community Foundation.

Rules:

• Contestant must be an emerging poet or student poet (not an established, professional poet).  As this program is designed to aid newer voices with the development of a career in the literary arts, please use your best personal judgment in classifying yourself (e.g.: a writer who has had work published in widely read journals would not qualify as an emerging poet).

• No entry fees are required.

• Submission deadlines:

  Friday, February 24 for the April 4 master class and poetry reading.
  Friday, April 21 for the June 1 master class and poetry reading.
  Friday, August 18 for the September 28 master class and poetry reading.

 NOTE: All entries must be RECEIVED at the AAC by 5 p.m. on deadline dates.

• Emerging poets may only submit three works for each reading but may apply to all three readings using different selections.

• Poets MUST INCLUDE FOUR (4) COPIES OF EACH POEM for distribution to the judges.

• Poet's name and poem title must be clearly marked at the top of each submission.
 
 

• Entry can be in English or Spanish but each poem must be typed in an 11-point or greater font size on a single sheet of standard 8 ½ x 11" paper.

• Completed entry form (below) must accompany submission.

• No email or fax submissions accepted.

• Winners will be notified of acceptance within three weeks of each submission deadline.

• The judges regret that they cannot return poems or offer comments on individual entries.  Judges decisions are final.
 

Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address _________________________________________________________________________________

City State Zip Code ___________________________________________________________________________

Daytime phone  ________________  Evening Phone __________________ Cell (optional) ____________

Email __________________________________________________________________________________________

Poem Title(s):  _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Mail entries to:

Arlington Arts Center
In Two Tongues/En dos lenguas
Poetry Contest and Mentoring Program
3550 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA  22201