Librarian, Heather Szaley Aronson, leading the launch of a new monthly Poetry Open Mic
series, presented in partnership with the Southbury Arts & Culture Alliance. (SACA photo)
The Southbury Arts & Culture Alliance (SACA), Sustainable Southbury, and the Southbury Public Library are partnering with Southbury Poet Laureate, Claire Schreier Warner, to launch a new monthly Poetry Open Mic series celebrating the spoken word and the creative voices of the community.
The series will debut on Sunday, January 18, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. in the Library’s Kingsley Room and will continue on the third Sunday of each month through May. The event is free and open to adults of all experience levels, from first-time readers to seasoned poets.
Each participant will have up to five minutes to share original poetry or their favorite works.
“This series is about creating a welcoming space where people can listen, share, and connect through poetry,” said Southbury Poet Laureate, Claire Schreier Warner. “We’re excited to invite the community to gather, whether they come to read or simply to enjoy the voices of others.”
Registration is recommended, though walk-ins are welcome, making the event accessible to both planners and spontaneous attendees.
Registration for each monthly open mic is handled individually through the Library. To sign up or learn more, visit the Events section of the Southbury Public Library website.
The January event registration page is currently live, with future dates to be added on a rolling basis.
Claire Schreier Warner is the author of Family and Other Broken Things, a chapbook of poetry, and a former co-editor of the Connecticut River Review. Her work as Poet Laureate emphasizes accessibility, community engagement, and the power of poetry to bring people together.
She was selected by a panel of three judges last year to become Southbury’s second Poet Laureate, whose term runs from November 1, 2025, through October 31, 2028.
The Southbury Record 