AMP awarded poetry Leadership Award
On its 85th anniversary, the Academy of American Poets (AAP) will present Andrews McMeel Publishing with a Leadership Award at its annual Poetry & the Creative Mind gala. The event, an annual celebration of poetry during National Poetry Month, will be held on April 24 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. The AAP’s inaugural Leadership Awards will be given to one publisher, partner, patron and poet.
Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP) will be honored for “innovating poetry book publishing by identifying poetry’s popularity on social media and translating it into print, expanding the genre to include an emerging field of young adult poetry that is popular and profound,” according to an AAP press release.
“In the past five years, the readership of poetry has nearly doubled,” said Chairman of the AAP Michael Jacobs. “That dramatic growth is in part due to the success of Andrews McMeel in reaching new readers.”
AMP has found success in discovering and introducing new, unique voices to the world. Poets like Rupi Kaur, Amanda Lovelace, Najwa Zebian, r.h. Sin and Courtney Peppernell have transformed what poetry is and represents, giving the classic art a new meaning to today’s young adults. In the new age of social media, AMP has championed its creators and helped make poetry more accessible and universal.
“Andrews McMeel Publishing is delighted to receive this distinguished honor from the Academy of American Poets,” said AMP President and Publisher Kirsty Melville. “As the nation’s premier publisher of poetry, we value their mission to share the work of contemporary poets and to advocate for poets and poetry around the world. We are thrilled by the burgeoning interest in this unparalleled art form, as the transformative language of poetry continues to move, resonate with and empower millions of people of all ages and backgrounds.”
Along with AMP, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Eunice Panetta and Sonia Sanchez will also receive Leadership Awards for partner, patron and poet, respectively. The Civitella Ranieri Foundation, now in its 25th year, is a residency program for poets. Eunice Panetta is the former chair of the AAP board of directors and is dedicated to the organization and its success in promoting the value of poetry. Sonia Sanchez is a poet, playwright and author, who was also awarded this year’s Wallace Stevens Award for mastery in poetry.
The Poetry & the Creative Mind gala raises money to support the Academy of American Poets’ education program, an initiative that benefits more than 100,000 students and 30,000 educators every year. In addition to the awards presentation, the event will feature poetry readings by celebrities and special guests, all gathered to celebrate poetry.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Andrews McMeel Publishing is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, a global, independent and integrated media partner to creators of inspirational content, comics and illustrated humor. AMP is a recognized poetry leader, accounting for more than 40 percent of the U.S. poetry market, and a key player in bringing fresh voices to the world. Our distinguished and diverse roster of poets includes Rupi Kaur, Najwa Zebian, Amanda Lovelace, Courtney Peppernell and Lang Leav.