About The Poet's Loft
The Poet’s
Loft is a private business owned and operated
by Pamela R. Rawls. A unique coffee house and performance venue
dedicated to the art and artist. Located at 514b Central Ave in
Hot Springs National Park Arkansas in the heart of city's Historic
District. Over 100 years old, she stands approximately at the
foot of West Mountain between Central and Exchange Streets.
What a great venue and what illustrious poets
have read on this stage! This Venue curates a most glorious poetic
tradition that has showcased some incredible poets in this far
off part of Americana. Rita Dove, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti,
Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Brenda Moossy, Ben Porter Lewis, Lucinda
Williams, Miller Williams, Shokan Tadashi Kondo, and a list of
poets that just might surprise you, have graced our most wonderful
stage. It is truly an honor to read here following in such poetic
footsteps.
The Wednesday Night Open Mic Poetry
Reading founded in 1989 as "The Spa City Poetry
Reading" and is believed to be the world's oldest continuous
Wednesday open mic poetry reading. Printed articles about this
local event have appeared in local newsprint, and in publications
throughout the U.S. including People Magazine. It is
often hosted by the man who founded The
Poet’s Loft, Bud Kenney.
The Spa City Poetry Slam
is an uncensored competition the for spoken word artist. Founded
in 1997, the staple prize allotted for the Wonder Poet in 3rd
place has always remained "A Loaf of Wonder Bread and Can
of Spam". The prize money has changed over the years and
now stands at $25 for the poet in 1st place and a new journal
for the 2nd place winner. Feature slots are available for every
event.
The Arkansas Grand Slam spoken
word competition for individual poets is the world's most prestigious
live invitational competition specifically in existence to celebrate
the art of spoken word and the artists who perform it. Honored,
I humbly bow....The very first Arkansas Grand Slam
was held in November of 1997. There is no other poetry competition
on this earth that does more to celebrate the poet than The
Arkansas Grand Slam; not PSI, Not LEAF,
Not Blue Bonnet or Akoben Word Fest. NONE! Come on out and be
a part of the tradition, experience the Phenom of Slam Poetry
live. Most importantly, experience The Loft!.
The Loft Bistro is open offering
healthy fresh choices prepared daily. The menu is refreshed every
season and includes a select line of coffee, free trade certified
teas, beers and fine wines.
The
Poet’s Loft identifies and meets the educational
and social needs, primarily of spoken word and performing artist,
in our principal geographic service area of Central Arkansas.
To this end, The Poet’s
Loft offers open mic’s, competitions and
services to enable artists to achieve their performance goals
and become lifelong learners and global citizens, building sustainable
local/world community. We enable artists to model excellence
in their service to the community and colleagues.
The
Poet’s Loft will be the best place to
learn, teach, perform, and build a sustainable local and world
community and building social bridges, through education and
healing.
Goals statement:
The strategic planning priority goals of The
Poet’s Loft are to:
Our common welfare
should come first; The Poet’s Loft success
depends upon departmental unity.For The Poet’s
Loft purpose there is but one ultimate authority-the
Loft Keeper. Our departmental leaders are but trusted servants:
they do not govern.The only requirement for participation in
a department or on a committee is a desire to be of useful service
to others. Each department should be autonomous except in matters
affecting another department or The Poet’s Loft
as a whole. Each department has but one primary purpose- to
support the artistic constituency that it serves.The
Poet’s Loft ought never endorse, finance or lend
The Poet’s Loft name to any related facility
or outside enterprise. Every department ought to be fully self
supporting. The Poet’s Loft should remain
non-professional but may employ special workers. The
Poet’s Loft may create departments or committees
directly responsible to those they serve. The Poet’s
Loft entity has no opinion on outside issues, hence
The Poet’s Loft name ought never to be
drawn into public controversy. Our artistic recruitment policy
is based on attraction above promotion. Service in promoting
the artistic constituency is the foundation of our traditions,
ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Community Projects
Living
Out Load, Speak Your Mind
Project including cooperation with GARLAND
COUNTY COMMUNITY COUNSELING and GARLAND COUNTY JUVENILE DRUG COURTS
A project for troubled youth that introduces
them to alternative ways to express themselves, we expose them
to various forms of art, performance poetry and spoken word.
To become involved, donate or volunteer your
time please contact:
THE POET’S LOFT
501-625-7704 OR
EMAIL poets.loft514@gmail.com
We gladly accept donations of canvas paints
brushes note book journals pens colors markers construction paper
dictionaries etc.
"WE MUST NURTURE OUR YOUTH BY OFFERING
GUIDANCE, EARS, HEARTS, AND UNDERSTANDING. BE DILIGENTLY SUPPORTIVE
UPLIFTING AND ENCOURAGING, FOR THEY MAY BE THE ONES NURTURING
THE GENERATION OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRAND CHILDREN."
Pamela R. Rawls
Hearts to Hands
A project of caring
and generosity. From November 1st thru January 1st The
Poet’s Loft accepts donations and gracious gifts
of instant lunches, gently worn coats, new socks, gloves, winter
hats and clean used or new blankets. During the winter months
Pamela R Rawls and volunteers representing The Poet’s
Loft visit the local homeless camps and distribute the
items.
To become involved,
donate or volunteer please contact:
THE POET’S LOFT
501-625-7704 OR
EMAIL poets.loft514@gmail.com
Project Safe Kids
We sponsor project “Safe
kids” a special program of L.E.E.P. Law Enforcement Education
Program particularly, S.O.S., Students on Sobriety Program. The
Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) seeks to create and support
educational programs for the betterment of both the general public
and the law enforcement community. We do this through programs
including the Project SafeKids Program, which offers free child
identification CD-ROMs to concerned parents at local community
events. Students on Sobriety (S.O.S) educates teens about the
legal, financial and human costs of drinking and driving. Our
911 Your Friend video teaches children what to expect
when they dial 911 in an emergency. We also award a scholarship
for students interested in pursuing a career in Public Safety
and all of its related fields.
To
become involved, donate or volunteer please contact:
THE POET’S LOFT
501-625-7704 OR
EMAIL poets.loft514@gmail.com
