American Poetry Museum (About)))))


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	What We Do	The American Poetry Museum provides a place for communities to gather and participate in meaningful dialogue on issues that are of interest and importance to their lives. This new approach to museum programming emphasizes active learning and engagement rather than passive reflection. The museum addresses three fundamental issues: The downward trend in book consumption by Americans, especially poetry The need for museums to be centers of active learning and civic engagement The encouragement and appreciation of the diversity of the American experience By working to fulfill all of these needs, the American Poetry Museum produces programs that are specifically committed to the continuation of poetry as a literary and performance art and the use of poetry as an active tool for education. Within the DC area, the Museum provides the public with enriching educational opportunities through exhibitions and outreach programs. Our programs concentrate on establishing concrete relationships with various communities and institutions. There are also programs for national and international audiences, including traveling workshops and exhibitions, online resources, public programs, and engaging on-site exhibitions that provide an interactive visitor experience. The Museum is located in the Anacostia neighborhood of DC. This historic neighborhood is one of DC’s most underserved communities and has limited access to the city’s numerous artistic and cultural centers. This area was chosen to establish and grow the Museum to give the residents of this neighborhood a Museum that will serve their community and also attract people who live outside of the neighborhood. The Museum is committed to serving the community in which it is housed while maintaining a regional, national, and cyber presence through the Museum’s many offsite public programs with cultural partners around the DC metro area.