Poetry Happens Here
Santa Barbara is a thriving creative community which includes poets and poetry lovers of all kinds. Santa Barbara even has its own poetry press, Gunpowder Press, which includes local poets in its Shoreline Voices series.
Coming Events
December 2025
Tuesday, December 2
- Tayllor and Ademola Oyewole-Davis Present: Storytelling is the Revolution: What’s Your Story?
Tuesday & Thursday 5-7pm Poetry Workshops for All
First Workshop: Tuesday December 2nd, 5pm
Showcase and Exhibition March 2026
Free! Community Arts Workshop. Signups and more information at sbcaw.org/upcoming
January 2026
Friday, January 23
- Fare Trade Ekphrastic Reading
Hosted by George Yatchisin
Poets–Ron Alexander, Natalie D-Napoleon, Gabriella Klein, Tayllor Oyewole-Davis, Melinda Palacio, Christine Penko, Omar Pimienta, George Yatchisin, Chryss Yost– respond to the art exhibit “Fare Trade” featuring photographs by Patricia Houghton Clarke and Brett Leigh Dicks and papel picado by Irene Ramirez
Santa Barbara City Hall, 5:30 pm
Saturday, January 31
William Stafford Reading
Hosted by Paul Willis
Featured reader: former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emma Trelles Featured musician: Nicolas Vivanco, classical guitar
Open mic to read your favorite Stafford poem
First Crossing Day Use Area on Paradise Road in Los Padres National Forest, 2pm