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Open Artist Call: Lyrics for Life

The City of Birmingham inaugural Poet Laureate, Salaam Green, in partnership with the Academy of American Poets, invites Birmingham’s poets, storytellers, and dreamers to lend their voices to Lyrics for Life: An Anthology of poems from Birmingham youth and adults. Edited by Salaam Green with forward by Randall Horton, this project celebrates the pulse, power, and poetry of the Magic City. This anthology is a gathering of words that heal and reveal, a space for poems that rise from porches, classrooms, juvenile impacted spaces, and sacred places of becoming. We welcome your truth, your tenderness, your testimony. Who Can Submit This call is open to poets of all backgrounds, ages, and experience levels who live, work, study, or create within the City of Birmingham. We welcome submissions in the following categories: Youth: Poets ages 17 and under Adult: Poets ages 18 and older Emerging: Poets who have not yet been published Seasoned: Poets who have been previously published Please complete your submission no later than January 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm Central Time. We are not able to accept late or incomplete submissions. Contact hello@createbirmingham.org with any questions.

2025 PROGRAMS CALENDAR

Our exciting slate of programs, including Coffee with Creatives, CO.STARTERS, workshops, and networking events, are designed to inspire, educate, and connect. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or looking to broaden your horizons, there’s something for you.

CONTRIBUTE TO OUR WORK

Birmingham’s creative economy is only as strong as the spirit of community that supports its development. Our programs and services are offered for free or at very low cost thanks to the generosity of our donors. We hope you will consider supporting us in this work.

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Each week, we share our own upcoming events and programs, as well as news of interest, funding opportunities, and arts & culture happenings. We also feature interviews with the creative dreamers and doers making a difference in Birmingham.

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