Poetry In Place, started in 2025, is an ongoing workshop series engaging and archiving our relationship with the Trinity River.

Read the 2025 Poetry In Place Anthology Now

What is Poetry In Place?
Poetry In Place is a project documenting the relationship of residents of Dallas with the Trinity River, one of the main geographical features motiving the placement of the city when it was founded. In monthly workshops, attendees will explore the river and record their experience based on prompts by Teaching Artists Lisa Huffaker and Joe Milazzo, with additional insight provided by a guest contributor. Material created during the workshops will be archived and available on The Garret's website for the general public to read and discover. In September, an anthology of selected contributions will be published.

Who can participate in Poetry In Place?
The workshops are free and open to the public, and previous writing experience or training is not required. Poetry In Place was created to record and archive the responses of the people whose lives and experiences (and/or curiosity) engage the river and how it shapes, divides, bridges, and unites communities in the city. The project is designed for participants with little or no previous writing experience. 

Note: while the program does not have an age requirement, the workshops are designed for adults.

Where and when will the workshops take place?
Each month during the project, the location of the Poetry In Place workshop will be different, focusing on a different component of our collective understanding of the river. Workshops will be held at locations adjacent to the communities of West Dallas, Joppa, 10th Street/The Bottoms, The Cedars, Bonton and others. The exact meeting location of each workshop will be communicated to registered participants. Workshops will be held outside, and a moderate amount of walking should be expected.

The workshops are held on the fourth Saturday of each month. The time of each workshop may vary to better suit the temperature of the season.

Upcoming workshop dates, locations and guest contributors include: (Click on the date to RSVP)

January 24 - Santa Fe Trestle Trail with Guest Contributor Jean Lamberty
February 28 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA
March 28 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA
April 25 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA
May 23 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA
June 27 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA
July 25 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA
August 22 - Location and Guest  Contributor TBA

Poetry In Place is made possible by the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture.