The National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. (NBPF), a not-for-profit organization founded in 2016, has selected Rich Ferguson to serve as the State of California Beat Poet Laureate for a two-year term from Sept. 2020 to Sept. 2022.
In May 2020 the NBPF board members selected Ferguson based on his peers’ recommendations for his literary accomplishments and dedication to Beat-inspired poetry. Under this new title, the poet laureate’s activities will continue to raise national consciousness about the Beat Generation while upholding the values and demonstrating the integrity of the Foundation in the community.
Ferguson, a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet, has shared the stage with Patti Smith, Wanda Coleman, Moby, and other esteemed poets and musicians. Widely anthologized, Ferguson’s newest poetry collection, Everything is Radiant Between the Hates, will be released in the fall of 2020 (Moon Tide Press).
More information can be found at www-rich-ferguson.com.
The National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc., which coordinates the “National Beat Poetry Festival”, “International Beat Poetry Festival”, and “Kerouac Cafe”, will honor Ferguson, among other winners, at this year’s annual Beat Poet Laureates Awards Ceremony and Dinner Celebration ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.
This event may be live or live-streamed online depending on conditions. Event details to be released closer to the date on www.nationalbeatpoetryfoundation.org.
About Rich Ferguson
Rich Ferguson is a poet and a featured performer in the film, What About Me? featuring Michael Stipe, Michael Franti, k.d. lang, and others. His award-winning spoken-word music videos have been screened worldwide, and he was a winner in Opium Magazine’s Literary Death Match, L.A. His poetry collection, 8th & Agony, is out on Punk Hostage Press, and his debut novel, New Jersey Me, has been released by Rare Bird Books.
(Author photo by Alexis Rhone Fancher)
