The Poetry Society of New York offers a variety of unique writing activities and team-building poetry workshops.
These workshops, virtual get-togethers, and outings are great for school groups; after-school programs; corporate outings; company retreats; office parties; community events; tourist groups; family get-togethers; and communities of all sorts looking to create tighter bonds and meaningful memories.
Our Most Popular: Emoji Poetry Workshop
Emoji Poetry may initially sound “like a post-ironic gimmick,” but PSNY’s Emoji Poetry Workshop remains one of its most popular services—and not just for the kitsch of those adorable hieroglyphs! Emojis are a unique cultural touchstone because they are a global language designed to convey emotion. That’s why Emojis make for such fantastic icebreakers—even between team members from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Emojis also provide a light-hearted, low-pressure entry point into writing poetry, an art form that many find intimidating.
PSNY’s Emoji Poetry Workshop asks participants to write collaborative emoji poems, to translate those poems individually into English, and to share their translations with the group. Cooperating to write emoji poems as a team requires creativity, spontaneity, and compromise—the ultimate group bonding exercise. Translating those emoji poems on one’s own creates a space for vulnerability and personal expression. Sharing individual translations inevitably leads to thoughtful conversations about language, culture, friends, family, process, bias, choice, and values.
Sample Workshops
“Tarot Poetics” with Stephanie Berger
“Poetry as Dream Mapping” with Jackie Braje
“Poetry as Connective Groundwork” with Jackie Braje
Sample Educational Presentations (Available for All Ages)
“Poetry in Motion in New York City” with Tova Greene
“The Poetic is Political” with Tova Greene
“How to Read (& Consequently Fall in Love with) a Poem” with Tova Greene