In 2017, with the help of volunteer leaders, Pike County Extension Community Arts began Pikeville Poetry, to gather people to write poetry and share writing-related events together.

Until 2020, Pikeville Poetry hosted dozens of writing workshops at both Extension and other various local locations, such as art stores and coffee shops. Pikeville Poetry even helped organize several local events, such as participating in 100 Thousand Poets for Change, part of the largest poetry reading in history with over 500 simultaneous open mic events in almost 100 countries. Pikeville Poetry was also integral in the planning of other Community Arts events, such as a Story to Song music crafting class that led to a group of teen girls writing and performing their own song in the Pikeville city park, the organizing of an annual K-12 poetry contest in local schools called Voices of Pike, and various poetry-related film screenings and workshops.

In wake of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Pikeville Poetry events subsided. An attempt at online gatherings was made but interest was not enough to sustain a regular meeting. Fast forward to 2023 and a new creative endeavor, the Pikeville Creative Community, began to gather with the purpose of planning new artistic events in the city. We’re proud to say that Pikeville Poetry quickly resurfaced as a topic and was met with great community support.

So far this year, there have been Pikeville Poetry gatherings, and a monthly open mic “poetry slam” event has successfully gathered many people throughout the spring and summer months to read, write, share, and listen to poetry together. These events have taken place at Appcycled, a local shop featuring upcycled and thrifted goods, handmade art, and other regional treasures—a great way to bring a crowd of people into a local business to socialize, share art, and of course to peruse merchandise and shop small in the process.

We’re excited to see this program revived and look forward to the creative expression that will result.