The annual Poetry Workshop sponsored by the Lincoln Arts Festival (LAF) will be held at St. Colomba’s Episcopal Church (32 Emery Lane, Boothbay Harbor) Sept. 14. Maine Poet Laureate Stu Kestenbaum will lead a day of writing and discussion designed to stimulate and develop skills in writing poems. The emphasis will be on observing the world around us and crafting writing that expresses our relationship to it.

Stuart Kestenbaum is a well known, well regarded poet, noted for his witty and humorous poems about the social world around him. His most recent book is “How to Start Over” published by Deerbook Editions this year. As Poet Laureate, he has produced a weekly program on Maine Public Radio, and made appearances in schools and public venues all over the state. He is known to be an exciting teacher, who has received rave reviews from people who have done workshops with him.

For more information about Maine’s fifth Poet Laureate, visit https://stuartkestenbaum.com

The workshop is limited to 15 participants. Registration is required. Those interested in participating should contact Rosemary Bourette (rosemarybourette@gmail.com) as soon as possible to ensure a place. There is a registration fee of $65 for the workshop, payable to the Lincoln Arts Festival.

This poetry workshop was established In 1997 by Jean Webster, a poet and Lincoln Arts Festival board member. That first year, poets from New York presented a program. Their leadership created an enthusiasm among local people who write poetry, and over the years the poetry workshop has continued to thrive.

The purpose of the Lincoln Arts Festival, now celebrating its 38th year, is to preserve, support and present to the Boothbay region the performing, visual and applied arts and humanities, and to provide opportunities for students, artists and the general public to participate in the cultural life of Midcoast Maine.