Upcoming Events
Poetry Reading & Open Mic | Set & Setting
Mark your calendars for a poetry reading & open mic with @keb.poet in celebration of their debut poetry collection: Bloodroom
When: August 1st, 11:00am-1:00pm
Where: Set & Setting @artportal_louisville, 1512 Portland Avenue
Theme: Family, Gender, & Midwest Malaise
Praise for Bloodroom:
Kay E. Bancroft makes me want to be brave—to be able to watch horror movies with my eyes open and to shake up language until only sincerity remains. Get ready to experience Bloodroom, a work that is part poetry collection, part museum exhibit, and part science experiment. You will walk away from this book a whole new creature.
–Paige Lewis, author of Space Struck & Canon
About the poet: Kay E. Bancroft (they/them) is a writer, editor, educator, and artist based in Cincinnati, OH. They hold an MFA in Poetry from Randolph College, and a BA from the University of Cincinnati. You can find their writing in Poet Lore, Pleiades Journal, RHINO Poetry, Passengers Journal, The Rumpus, & more.
SAFTA 2026 Trans and Nonbinary Writers Retreat
The Sundress Academy for the Arts is thrilled to announce its Trans/Nonbinary Retreat, which runs from Saturday, July 18th, 2026, through Sunday July 19th, 2026. This event will be entirely virtual held via Zoom. All SAFTA retreats focus on generative writing, and this year's retreat will also include the following craft talk sessions: “The Volta As A Survival Strategy” and “Ekphrastic Identities: Exploring Gender and the Body Through Art.”
The event will be open to trans and nonbinary writers of all backgrounds and experience levels and provide an opportunity to work with many talented authors and poets from around the country, including workshop leaders Dr. Kelsey L. Smoot and Kay E. Bancroft.
Poetry Reading: Bloodroom by Kay E. Bancroft
Please join us on Friday, June 26th to celebrate the debut poetry collection Bloodroom by Kay E. Bancroft. The author will be reading with Séamus Isaac Fey and I.S. Jones.
Please note: this is a mask required event. We have free masks available for everyone at the door, several large air purifiers, and ceiling fans for circulation.
Virtual Craft Chat with Poet Lore & The Writer's Center
Poet Lore and The Writer’s Center present a FREE virtual chat about the craft of poetry! We’re joined by Kay E. Bancroft to discuss their debut collection, Bloodroom. Kay is in conversation with Emily Holland, poet and editor of Poet Lore, America’s oldest poetry journal.
RSVP below to receive login information (our virtual events are held via Zoom). FREE and open to the public, all times Eastern.
We encourage you to order a copy of the book from your local, independent bookseller or online from the publisher »
Book Launch
An evening celebrating the launch and publication of Bancroft’s debut poetry collection, Bloodroom!
6 p.m. Reception | 6:30 p.m. Program
Free & open to the public. Registration required.
Copies of Bloodroom will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Downbound Books.