Elgin poetry contest deadline extended

The deadline for submissions to Elgin’s first Pop-Up Poetry Contest has been extended to May 15, giving interested poets an extra two weeks to craft their art and submit to the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.

Sean Hargadon, chairman of the commission, said the theme — Icons of Elgin — was chosen to engage the community to write about the city.

“Elgin is an interesting place,” Hargadon said. “There’s plenty to talk about.”

Some of the best poems will be blown up and displayed as public art next to the photography submitted for the Elgin 1440 project. A select number of poems will later be featured in a commemorative book.

Only one submission per person is allowed for the contest, and each poem must be restricted to only 10 lines, not including the title. An excerpt from a longer poem is welcome if it can stand alone.

Hargadon said the display opportunity in the downtown area is a way to experience poetry in a different context.

“People can walk downtown, get drawn into it, look at it,” Hargadon said. “It’s a new way of using an old form.”

Submissions will be judged by an independent panel, and writers whose poems are selected for display will receive a copy of the poster.

Hard copies of poems can be sent to the Elgin Pop-Up Poetry Project, Attn: Sean Hargadon, Chairman, Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120; or email elginarts@gmail.com.

More information about the contest is available at elginarts.com.