The goal of The Poetry Society of New York's Spring Gala is to raise funds and awareness for The New York City Poetry Festival. For the past decade, The New York City Poetry Festival has gathered the poetry community of New York City on Governors Island's pastoral lawns every summer for a weekend of free readings, workshops, book-selling, art installations, performances, and other poetic festivities. One major highlight of the festival is its Youth Poetry Festival, which offers children and young adults the opportunity to participate in interactive writing games, to generate new work, and to perform their work on stage alongside some of New York's greatest living writers. In celebration of the festival’s 10th event, The Poetry Society of New York is expanding its programming to include a Friday night opening evening reading & celebration! Over 14,000 people attend the New York City Poetry Festival each year. With your help, we hope to make this year's offering richer than ever. 

The Spring Gala, to be held at the historic Players Club on Gramercy Park, will take place on Thursday, April 8th, 2021 from 7-10pm. The event will include live music and a cocktail hour from 7-8:30pm, a brief presentation and live auction beginning at 8:30pm, and an open bar and immersive performance elements throughout. Black tie or festive formal attire is encouraged.
The Spring Gala will feature a variety of speakers, performers, and entertainers, including this year’s Spring Gala honorees, David Lehman and Alison Granucci, the first annual recipients of PSNY’s Vicious Circle Award. The event will also feature dancer, Brian Davis; jazz band, the Alex Feldman Trio; typewriter poets, Kate Belew, Amy Palen, & Anna Winham; speakers, Stephanie Berger, Nicholas Adamski, Matthew Baker, & Vivian Baker; auctioneer, Lucas Hunt of Hunt Auctioneers; a photo booth by Fitzpatrick Entertainment; and, of course, your MC’s, Kyra Jackson and Charley Layton.
We are very thankful to our sponsors and supporters: Brooklyn Brewery, DHP, Fifi Imports, Fornino Pizza, Hudson Whiskey, Hunt Auctioneers, Island Oyster, Little Peacock Imports, The McKittrick Hotel, Midnights Restaurant, National Sawdust, New York Distilling Company, Radix Media, Well Told Design, and Winc. . Those who are unable to attend this year’s Gala but are interested in showing their support for The New York City Poetry Festival should consider sponsoring the Gala, sponsoring the festival, making a donation to The Poetry Society of New York, or becoming a member of PSNY.