We are pleased to announce that Word Seed Inc. has been awarded a grant from New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to launch the Poetic License Project: a series of four intensive poetry weekends featuring performances at Paterson’s independent arts cooperative, Prototype 237, by some of the best national and local poets, in addition to participatory workshops, publications, and community-centered events designed to activate Paterson’s cultural corridors and strengthen its identity as New Jersey’s historic poetry capital.

Word Seed was among 39 organizations statewide selected to receive funding as part of NJEDA’s $15 million initiative to support community development through community-driven arts projects. Notably, Word Seed was the only Paterson-based organization to receive an award, earning the #3 overall score out of nearly 100 eligible submissions. The application’s success was bolstered by partnerships with seasoned cultural and community institutions Prototype 237, the Paterson Museum, CavanKerry Press, and New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC).

The Poetic License Project builds on Word Seed’s eight-year trajectory of cultivating poetry in Paterson — from the founding of the Paterson Poetry Festival in 2018 to the citywide expansion of Paterson Poetry Month in 2024. With support from the A.R.T. Phase II grant, the project represents a significant next chapter, designed to reignite the city’s cultural and economic embers through community building and poetry and to enable Paterson to cultivate its place in the national poetry landscape.

Poetic License will present four multi-day Poetic License Sessions at Prototype 237, each featuring a performance by a distinguished national poet and several supporting poets, as well as multiple public workshops, interviews, and community events. This residency is intended to breathe new life into the poetic community in Paterson, New Jersey and afford poets an opportunity to engage with Paterson, its history, and its residents. Resident and featured poets for each of the Residency weekends will be announced by mid to late February.

These will take place on the following dates May 1-3, 2026; June 12 - 14, 2026; July 10 - 12, 2026; and in the Month of October. Coinciding with Paterson Poetry Month, the final session in October will expand into a six-day Poetic License Writer’s Incubator, with a residency for a poet newly published by CavanKerry Press — offering them concentrated time to build new connections with the greater Paterson literary community while on their book tour.

Works by all participating poets will be included in a Poetic Licence written anthology, and theirperformances captured in a dedicated video anthology.

The Poetic License Project is anchored by two large-scale public events: a Poetic License Welcome Party in March of 2026, at both the Paterson Museum and Prototype 237, and the Paterson Poetry Prom on October 31, 2026 to close out Paterson Poetry Month. Both will feature multiple performances, bands, and DJs.

Press Release