Author: mtmason@gmail.com

My term as Artist in Residence for the Castle and Cathedral Creative District has Begun!

I have keys to the Castle! And I’m getting set for May, mainly as my term as Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence really gets going with some events I’ll be running there.

I plan on running a new Open Mic in the Castle and the Carriage House, a Writing Workshop based on the one I just ran at the La Vista Library, and some Poetry Office Hours… no, I’m not exactly sure what that’ll be, but I get asked a lot of good poetry questions and figure we should have a time where people can just come and ask things (or sit in a room together and submit poems to literary magazines).

5/9 and 6/27, Saturdays, Noon-2pm, Poetry Office Hours at Cali Commons (518 N 40th St, Omaha). Drop in to talk poetry, ask a question, or bring your laptop and submit poems to literary magazines with me and others. I hope to mostly hold these on the 2nd Saturday of the month through September.

5/12 and 6/24, 6:30-8pm, I lead a writing workshop in the Cathedral Cultural Center (behind St. Cecilia Cathedral, 3900 Webster St, Omaha) reprising at least the first 2 What’s Your American Story workshops with writing about what brings you/your family to Omaha/Nebraska/USA.

5/13, Wednesdays, 7-9pm, The No Gatekeepers Poetry Night at the Joslyn Castle Music Room (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). Bring 2 poems: one of your own, one by another poet (friend, favorite song lyrics, etc.). Both poems should make us feel and/or understand some kind of experience, story, etc. You have 5 minutes, after which a horn will sound. All of us have poems that reach us, though often we don’t call them just poems, we call them song lyrics, rap lyrics, cowboy poetry, slam poetry, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein. Tonight, we give the gatekeeper the night off and welcome you to entertain us. It’s just us. (2nd Wednesday through September)
Next events: 6/10, 7/8, 8/12, and 9/9 in the Castle’s Carriage House

Also, I’ll be part of these events in the 2nd half of May:

5/15, Friday, 5-7pm, I head west and lead a writing workshop at the Gering Public Library (1055 P St, Gering).

5/16, Saturday, 2-5pm, I read at 3pm as part of a reception for The Nebraska Poet Project, an art exhibit by Stephanie Meisterling at the West Nebraska Arts Center (106 E 18th St, Scottsbluff). Twyla Hansen will read at 2pm and other poets TBA will read at 4pm. See details about the show and the exhibit at https://www.thewnac.com/currently-in-the-gallery

5/23, Saturday, 12-2pm, Emcee and guest performer for Autism Action Partnership’s Say It Your Way Open Mic and Slam at Legend Comics and Coffee (6068 Maple St, Omaha). Free, audience open to all, poetry slots intended for autistic adults 18+. Interested performers need to sign up, see details at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1439341124089437

There’s more, of course, with presentations at Richmont Village Senior Living Community, Autism Action Partnership and leading a great physician writing group, also. Interested in some poetry this summer or next fall? Contact me here or reach out to me through Poetry Forward.

Ah, April, you had me at “National Poetry Month”

I always look forward to April. It’s a month filled with poetry and one that keeps me busy. There’s a LOT to celebrate this month, so start early:

March 27th, Friday at 7:44am and 3:44pm, an interview of me by Mike Hogan will play on KIOS, 91.5 FM ( https://www.kios.org/ ) talking about poetry and my new position as the Castle and Cathedral Creative District’s Artist in Residence, April 1-September 30.

March 27th, Friday at 7pm, I’ll read as part of Authors Against ICE at The Reading Room (1505 Farnam St, Omaha), raising money for Neighborhood House (in MN) and Cira (in NE) along with writers Moisés Delgado, Oliver Low, and Angélica Perez. $10 entry, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Neighborhood House and Cira. For more information, see the Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/886728804270626/

April 1st, No foolin’, I start my 6-month term as Artist in Residence for Omaha’s Castle and Cathedral Creative District! There will be monthly events (that I’m still setting up now, so watch for more details coming soon) at the Joslyn Castle, Cali Commons and St. Cecilia Cathedral.
https://joslyncastle.com/about/who-we-are/castle-cathedral-creative-district/

April 2, I’ll speak with winners of the Scholastic Writing Awards at Hastings College.

April 7th, Tuesday at 6-7:30pm, I lead a public presentation and writing workshop at the North Platte Public Library (120 W 4th St, North Platte). Open to all, come write and hear some stories.

April 9th, Thursday at 6pm, I present at the Lexington Public Library (907 N Washington St, Lexington). Poetry is one of our original ways to tell stories, come write and experience poetry in a fun way. Free and open to the public, sponsored by the Lexington Community Foundation, Humanities Nebraska and the National Endowment for the Arts.

April 18th, Saturday at 10-11am, I lead a Poetry Writing Workshop at the Morton-James Public Library (923 1st Corso, Nebraska City) for adults and teens age 15 and up Free, no registration required. Open to beginning and seasoned poets and writers. Questions? Call the Library at 402-873-5609, and see more at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1663860511281012/

April 23rd, Thursday at 6-8pm, I’ll be speaking at Cali Commons (518 N 40th St, Omaha) as my intro event for my role as Artist in Residence for the Castle and Cathedral Creative District.

April 25th, Saturday, 9:30am-4pm, I’ll be emceeing the 45th Annual Spring Conference: And Poetry Connects It at the John G. Neihardt State Historic Site (306 W. Elm St. Bancroft). Tickets on sale soon, $25.
https://www.neihardtcenter.org/events/annual-spring-conference

I’ll also be leading events for Westside Middle School; a great series with my Physician Writing Group; the La Vista Public Library; a whole week working with 5th graders in an after school program in Crete; working with Liberty, La Vista and Papillion Middle Schools; speaking for the Nebraska State Education Association Retire Spring conference; and more!

As ever, support your local poets: Buy books, attend events, hug them, shower them with gifts, spread the word about how much you appreciate them all. And, of course, write a poem.

New Interview in The Good Life Review

Sign up for My Writing Workshop in March and April

I’m leading a free, 7-week writing workshop for people age 55 and older with me at the La Vista Library, contact the library to sign up by March 7th. It’ll be all about telling your story, your family’s story, what brings you to, well, be within driving distance of La Vista right now and will take some cues from the PBS series The American Revolution (by the Ken Burns team).

The workshop is brought to us by the La Vista Public Library, the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Nebraska Public Media, PBS and NPR.

The Reviews Are In (for Matt’s visits to schools through Poetry Forward)

After a visit to South Platte Schools in Big Springs, the rave reviews have been coming in for teaching poetry to students in elementary, middle and high school grades:

“FIVE STARS”

“If he came again I would drop everything, miss all my classes, and take zeros in every class just to hear him again.”

“I didn’t think I would enjoy poems. But Mason said stuff truly made me kind of understand what poetry kind of is.”

“He really brought out my spark…I hope he can come visit again.”

“I think a lot more schools should invite him”

I’m excited to be out, and just got home from schools in Dunning and Gothenburg, I’m grateful to Poetry Forward making these visits happen.

Hire This Poet!

I’m booking appearances for schools, colleges, libraries, nonprofits, keynotes, for-profits (you name it!) for the coming year.

I do readings, writing workshops, team-building trainings, talks, and I put together programs for you. I’ve done a few things… and I’m looking for more. See details on my Bookings page.

I did something new yesterday

I was honored to give my first commencement address yesterday (and, no, I’m not counting my poem “Graduation Address to the Kinder Kingdom Awesome Tots Preschool Class of 2023” from Rock Stars). Here’s to the 2025 grads of the University of Nebraska High School: Be dreamers but be practical. And, of course, be practical but be dreamers.

Matt’s Events for July and Early August

So what am I up to the rest of this summer? Well, lots! I was just in Broken Bow for a library event (the photo is from along the drive there), and I’m excited for a few things coming up. As ever, refer me to your local schools and libraries and businesses, this is the work I love:

July 3
I have a segment on Poets on the Plains, a weekly segment broadcast on High Plains Public Radio (but you can hear it at the link whenever you like). This week, I talk about a poem by Sarah McKinstry-Brown:
https://www.hppr.org/podcast/hppr-poets-on-the-plains

July 18
I give the Graduation Address to University High School in Lincoln. This is my first actual graduation address (I don’t count the poem “Graduation Address to the Kinder Kingdom Awesome Tots Preschool Class of 2023” in Rock Stars).

July 20
2:30-3, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I lead a writing workshop at the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln (12th and R Sts).

July 24
7pm, I lead an online Button 101 Poetry Workshop, Rock Stars Mix Tape. Register for this and other great workshops at: https://buttonpoetry.com/products/workshops/

July 26
7-9pm, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I Read at the Sheldon Museum of Art (12th and R Sts, Lincoln) along with Jewel Rodgers and music acts.

July 27
8-10pm, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I Read at the Gene Leahy Mall (11th and Douglas Sts, Omaha) along with Jewel Rodgers and music acts.

August 2
–12:30-1pm, As part of the Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival, I lead a storytelling/poetry workshop for young people, 4th grade and older at the Joslyn Art Museum in the Founders Room (2200 Douglas St, Omaha). And then:
–1:30-2:00pm, performance by current Nebraska Poet Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, also in the Joslyn’s Founders Room.

August 3
1-4pm, I Emcee the 60th Annual Neihardt Day at The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site (306 W Elm St, Bancroft):
https://www.neihardtcenter.org/events/60th-annual-neihardt-day

August 7
I have a segment on Poets on the Plains, a weekly segment broadcast on High Plains Public Radio (but you can hear it at the link whenever you like). This week, I talk about a poem by Nebraska poet JV Brummels:
https://www.hppr.org/podcast/hppr-poets-on-the-plains

August 7
6-7pm, I lead a writing workshop as part of Nights at The Joslyn, a 5-8 PM community program at the Joslyn Art Museum (2200 Douglas St, Omaha).

In the meantime, enjoy some poetry this July. Buy poetry books, go to poetry events, review poetry books online, sing poets praises, live the poetry dream!

I’ll be on Rattle Magazine’s Rattlecast this Sunday night

Tune in Sunday night, June 8th, 7pm Central for the weekly Rattlecast where I’ll be talking poetry and reading a few poems. Catch it live or watch later at: https://www.youtube.com/live/-dhiv84_hE4

June 28 Workshop (and a podcast interview)

I’m featured on Advocacy Is Medicine, the most recent Nebraska Alliance for Physician Advocacy podcast, talking about what I’ve been up to lately. Also, I’m leading a writing workshop for them on June 28th, it’s open to the public (registration required) so please join us!

To register, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl_quSkpqbrq1P-xyzODZHK_XXI-KRWNWt2aOOw199y50hPA/viewform

And for the podcast, you can listen in here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-mason-ne-state-poet-and-physician-writing/id1726854857