Founded in 1962, the CSU Poetry Center's mission is “to offer encouragement to poets and writers at CSU and in the Greater Cleveland area, to assist in the development of the writing of poetry and other creative genres, and to further the knowledge of and appreciation of poetry and creative writing within the University and the community at large.” The Series Editor and Director of the CSU Poetry Center is Michael Dumanis. Rita Grabowski is the Poetry Center manager.

The Poetry Center has published over 145 nationally distributed titles since 1971. Its publications include the national “CSU Poetry Series,” the “Cleveland Poets Series” for Ohio writers, as well as other titles of interest, including those published under the imagination series imprint.

The Cleveland State University Poetry Center Prizes offer $1,000 and publication for the best book-length manuscript in two categories submitted annually from November 1st up to a postmark deadline of February 1st. There is a $20.00 readers’ fee.

The “Open” Competition is limited to poets who have published at least one full-length collection of their poems (a book that is at least 48 pages in length with a press run of at least 500). The First Book Competition is for poets who have not previously published a full-length collection.

The Poetry Center also sponsors the Annual Ruthanne Wiley Novella Contest, offering up to two $500 prizes and publication for novellas of 60 to 120 manuscript pages. There is a $25.00 readers’ fee ($15.00 for students). Submission period is April 1st up to a postmark deadline of October 1st.

Follow the “Contest Guidelines” link on the home page or send a business-sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope.

The Poetry Center sponsors free public readings by local and nationally known writers; administers scholarships for Cleveland State students; and has run its popular Poetry Forum, a monthly free public workshop, for over 40 years.

The Poetry Center also oversees the Hazel Collister Hutchinson Contemporary Poetry Room (located in the University Library, room 415), a major collection of contemporary poetry books and journals open to students, writers, and the community.

Each summer, in cooperation with the CSU Creative Writing Program, and the Department of English, the Poetry Center co-sponsors the Imagination Conference, an intensive, five-day program of lectures and workshops on creative writing by noted writers and editors. Educators, writers and students are encouraged to apply. For more information, call Dr. Neal Chandler at the Creative Writing Program at 216.687.4522 for information.

The activities of the Poetry Center have been supported since 1975 by grants from the Ohio Arts Council. To find out more about our programs or to order books, call 216.687.3986 or call toll free at 888.278.6473.