Poetry in Motion® Rolls Onto Nashville Transit Shelters, Poetry Bus

Metro Arts, WeGo Partnership Brings Literary Art to Locations throughout Nashville in April

Nashville’s public transit passengers will experience the sights and sounds of local poetry during their commutes next month, as Poetry in Motion® returns to the city’s buses. Metro Arts and WeGo Public Transit have partnered to bring winning poems from local students and adults to WeGo’s dedicated customers for an immersive experience on a dedicated Poetry Bus throughout April, National Poetry Month.

Wrapped Poetry Bus for Poetry in Motion® 2019.

Wrapped Poetry Bus for Poetry in Motion® 2019.

“We’re proud of our long-time partnership with Metro Arts in bringing Poetry in Motion month to life. It gives us the opportunity to inspire moments of connectivity and joy for our riders, and share the talents of our local youth poets with the city,” said Steve Bland CEO of WeGo. “It’s just another way we strive to elevate the experiences of communities we serve.”

Created in 1992 by the Poetry Society of America, Poetry in Motion® highlights classic and contemporary poetry in public transit vehicles. The program has appeared in more than 30 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., making its debut on WeGo Public Transit vehicles in 2012. This year, Nashville’s seventh to participate, marks the city’s largest celebration of Poetry in Motion® to date.

Metro Arts partnered with Southern Word and The Porch Writers’ Collective to engage students and adults in poetry contests. Award-winning poems from both groups will be displayed on a Poetry Bus completely wrapped in the winning poems, in onboard displays, and interpreted via illustrated artwork installed on ten WeGo transit shelters throughout Nashville.

Nashvillians will have an opportunity to tour the Poetry Bus, view winning poems from students and adults, and hear readings Southern Word at the Poetry in Motion® Celebration Day, 4-6 p.m. on April 16, 2018, at WeGo Central.

“We believe every Nashvillian should have access to a creative life,” said Metro Arts Executive Director Caroline Vincent. “Our Poetry in Motion partnership with WeGo lives into that goal by involving Nashville’s youth and adults in creating poetry that the whole city can enjoy, and by activating everyday public spaces with art.”

To learn more about Poetry in Motion ®, including a list of winning poets, a forthcoming map of transit shelters to be illustrated, and details on Celebration Day on April 4, visit the Poetry in Motion page on nashville.gov.

About the Poetry Society of America

The Poetry Society of America, the nation's oldest poetry organization, was founded in 1910 for the purpose of creating a public forum for the advancement, enjoyment, and understanding of poetry. Through a diverse array of programs, initiatives, contests, and awards, the Poetry Society of America works to build a larger audience for poetry, to encourage a deeper appreciation of the art, and to place poetry at the crossroads of American life. Additional information about the Poetry Society of America is available online at www.poetrysociety.org.

About Southern Word

Southern Word conducts spoken word school residencies, after school workshops, open mics, and shows. Through the literary and performing arts, Southern Word offers creative solutions for youth to build literacy and presentation skills, reconnect to their education and to their lives, and act as leaders in the improvement of their communities. Southern Word is committed to providing youth with as many opportunities to develop and publicly present their voices with live performance, print, video, audio, and digital media. Last year, Southern Word reached 4,000 students in schools in five Tennessee counties through the residency program, including almost every Nashville high school.

About The Porch Writers’ Collective

The Porch fosters the artistic and professional development of writers and promotes a vibrant and diverse literary culture in Nashville through educational, inspirational, and community- building opportunities for adults and youth. They offer workshops, curate events, and offer programming to community partners that develop the poetry ecosystem in Nashville and engage poetry in multi-disciplinary spaces.

About WeGo Public Transit

WeGo Public Transit is an integral part of the community; connecting people to their lives and community by offering comprehensive transit services to all Davidson County neighborhoods and the region. Nashvillians can enjoy their favorite attractions, events, and eateries by visiting WegoTransit.com and start planning their trip today.

About Metro Arts

Metro Arts is the Nashville Office of Arts + Culture. Our mission is to drive a vibrant and equitable community through the arts. Metro Arts strives to ensure that all Nashvillians have access to a creative life, and we work toward this goal through community investments, artist and organizational training, public art and creative placemaking, and direct programs involving residents in all forms of arts and culture. Metro Arts receives operational support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, and additional information is available online at www.artsnashville.org.