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November 2, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

6 Arts Notes

Kent County Poetry Festival Welcomes Pádraig Ó Tuama and Maureen Corrigan

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The Kent Cultural Alliance, in partnership with the Rose O’Neill Literary House at Washington College, The Bookplate and Ortiz Studios present the 13th Annual Kent County Poetry Festival, April 8-10, 2022

The Main event of this year’s weekend-long festival is at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at the Garfield Center for the Arts and will feature Poet and Theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama in conversation with Literary Critic Maureen Corrigan.

Pádraig Ó Tuama by Trevor Brady

Pádraig presents Poetry Unbound with On Being Studios and in late 2019 was named Theologian in Residence for On Being, innovating in bringing art and theology into public and civic life.

When BBC journalist William Crawley introduced Pádraig on the stage to deliver a TEDx talk on Story, Crawley said, “He’s probably the best public speaker I know.”

Ó Tuama’s published work incorporates poetry (Readings from the Book of Exile [longlisted for the Polari Prize 2013]; Sorry for your Troubles), prose (In The Shelter) and theology (Daily Prayer, The Place Between). Poems featured or forthcoming in the following publications or platforms: Poetry Ireland Review,  Academy of American Poets, Raidio Teilifís Éireann’s Poem of the Week, Post Road, Cream City Review, Holden Village Voice, Proximity Magazine, On Being, Dumbo Feather, Gutter, America, and Seminary Ridge Review.

Maureen Corrigan

Maureen Corrigan, book critic for NPR’s Fresh Air, is The Nicky and Jamie Grant Distinguished Professor of the Practice in Literary Criticism at Georgetown University. She is an associate editor of and contributor to Mystery and Suspense Writers (Scribner) and the winner of the 1999 Edgar Award for Criticism, presented by the Mystery Writers of America. In 2019, Corrigan was awarded the Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing by the National Book Critics Circle.

The festival includes two student workshops on Friday, April 8 (closed to public) at Kent County High School and Washington College and three public events.  On Saturday, April 9 there will be a reading event with Local Celebrity Poets Beth Dulin, James Allen Hall, Meredith Davies Hadaway, Mary McCoy and Robert Earl Price, at the Garfield Center for the Arts from 1 – 2:30 p.m.  The main event is Saturday April 9 at 7 p.m at the Garfield.  The Public Read event is Sunday, April 10 from 2 – 5 p.m. at Ortiz Studios, Chestertown.  Anyone wishing to share a maximum of two poems, should register in advance.  Events are free but reservations are required.  Visit www.kentculture.org/poetryfest for info and to make reservations.

For 13 years, the Kent County Poetry Festival team has worked to provide opportunities for local poets as well as celebrate international poets.  In 2021 the Festival went virtual and featured 2013 Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco.  The committee that plans the festival includes Tom Martin of The Bookplate, Poets Meredith Davies Hadaway and Robert Earl Price, Rose O’Neill Literary House Director James Allen Hall, Artisan Craftsman Bob Ortiz, and Kent Cultural Alliance Director, John Schratwieser.

For reservations or information, visit www.kentculture.org or call 410-778-3700

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Kent Cultural Alliance Connects Local Artists with KCPS for Virtual Learning

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In response to multiple needs stemming from the current pandemic crisis, the Kent Cultural Alliance (KCA) has created a new and unique offering in partnership with the Kent County Public Schools (KCPS) with additional funding from the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust.

Robbi Behr

After meeting with the five KCPS visual arts teachers Aimee Boumiea, Teresa Jetton, Janet McCormick, Noel Morris and Stephanie Spenser, and with the blessing of KCPS Director of Teaching and Learning Gina Jachimowicz, the KCA put out a public “Call for Artists” in July 2020. The idea was to help our visual arts teachers by hiring a local artist to create a virtual art class on a topic related to current curriculum. Each grade level (Elementary, Middle, and High schools) came up with a defined need for the fall semester. KCA director, John Schratwieser, then sent out the public call via email, social media and local press with the intent of supporting a local artist and our public school teachers and students all at the same time.

Jason Patterson

Three outstanding artist have been selected by the teachers themselves from the applications submitted. The Kent Cultural Alliance thanks and congratulates artists Robbi Behr, Jason Patterson, and Vanna Ramirez for their winning applications. Each artist will receive a stipend of $800 for their 30 minute video art class. Each artist will be filmed by local Videogarpher Justinian Dispenza of Andover Media in Galena. The KCA is proud to be supporting local artist, as well as KCSP teachers and students in this difficult time.

Vanna Ramirez

While the finished product will not be available for public viewing, anyone with a student in the Kent County Public Schools who is taking an art class this year will certainly be hearing about this great partnership from your students.

Please follow the Kent Cultural Alliance on Facebook and Instagram. Visit our website to sign up for periodic emails and progress on the renovations of our new home at 101 Spring Avenue in Chestertown. (NOTE: Jason Patterson is a Board Member of the Kent Cultural Alliance. Winning artists were selected solely by KCPS Teacher. No KCA Board members or staff had a vote in this process.).

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Mid-Shore Arts: A New Plan for Kent Cultural Alliance with John Schratwieser

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When John Schratwieser, the director of the Kent County Arts Council, made a decision with his board to rebrand the county’s primary arts funding organization a few months ago as the Kent Cultural Alliance, the word “Alliance” had a totally different meaning.

Just a few weeks ago, the Kent Cultural Alliance saw itself providing needed funds for these worthwhile projects but also play a critical role in helping the facilitation of Kent County art and culture organizations to work together to maximize participation for those offerings. Now that has all changed.

But that hasn’t stopped John and his colleagues in refining the organization’s goals in this new age of COVID-19 while also continuing to financially supporting local art organizations and programs during this horrific pandemic.

The Spy talked to John via Zoom on Thursday afternoon to get an update.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about the Kent Cultural Alliance please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.