Join us for No Fest: Poetry Marathon Fundraiser, a full day of poetry, books, and community in support of Beyond Baroque’s mission to sustain literary and artistic experimentation in Los Angeles and beyond!

This year’s fundraiser is especially vital. Following the loss of our NEA grant earlier this year—which has limited our programming and canceled the Southern California Poetry Festival—we are calling on our community to help us continue providing a home for writers and artists. For 57 years, Beyond Baroque has stood as a hub for creativity, dialogue, and connection between writers, artists and their readers and audiences. With your support, we can keep that spirit alive.!

The day begins at 12 PM with a Book Fair featuring independent presses, booksellers, and local creatives. This portion of the event is free and open to the public.!

From 12–2 PM, weather permitting, we’ll also have an Open Mic, hosted by Maestro Gamin, an open invitation to share your voice and celebrate the power of poetry!!

At 2 PM, the festivities move into The Wanda Coleman Theater for a marathon-style reading featuring poets and supporters from the Beyond Baroque family. Each segment will spotlight a different theme reflecting our values and community spirit. Tickets are available for individual segments—or you can experience the full day of readings with an all-day No Fest pass.!

Be part of this crucial moment for the arts. Come celebrate the enduring spirit of poetry and community at 681 Venice Boulevard, and help us keep the arts alive in Venice!!

Featured Presses!

Errant Press, Riot of Roses, World Stage Press, LARB (Los Angeles Review of Books), Santa Monica Review, Women Who Submit, 826LA, What Books Press, Daxson Publishing, DSTL Arts, Beyond Baroque Books.!

Reading Segments in The Wanda Coleman Theater

1–2 PM: Metaphors Be With You!
Eric Ahlberg, Elena Karina Byrne, Pam Concepcion, Nikolai Garcia, Martin Jago, Doug Manuel, Nikki Ochoa, Genesis Perez, Amy Raasch, Laura Sermeño, Bri Stokes.

2–3 PM: Honoring Ancestors & Lineage!
Taz Ahmed, bridgette bianca, Cynthia Briano, Cynthia Alessandra Briano, Shonda Buchanan, Lynda V.E. Crawford, Barbara Fant, Maestro Gamin, Cynthia Guardado, Jose Hernandez Diaz, Arthur Kazakian, Mylo Lam, Darby Price, Lynne Thompson.

3–4 PM: Ode to Humanity!
Lisa Alvarez, Michelle Bitting, Amy Davis, Kim Dower, Jeffrey Graham, Gedda Ilves, Karen Kevorkian, Tom Laichas, Frank Lutz, Jose Oseguera, Annie Reiner, Luivette Resto, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brian Sonia-Wallace, Gail Wronsky.

5–6 PM: QTPOC Power & Resistance!
Rhiannon Cielos Chavez, Alice Fulmer, Sonia Guiñansaca, Dewi Oka, Luis Antonio Pichardo, Karo Ska, Christopher Soto, Pam Ward.

6–7 PM: Twisting Tongues!
Teresa Mei Chuc, Lisbeth Coiman, Ramón García, Angelina Sáenz, Ivan Sálinas, Anthony Seidman, Brian Kim Stefans, David Quiroz, Mariano Zaro.

7–8 PM: Possibilities of Language!
Will Alexander, Giovan Alonzi, Molly Bendall, Laurel Ann Bogen, Brendan Constantine, Rich Ferguson, Sara Ellen Fowler, Amy Gerstler, Larkin Higgins, Holaday Mason, Meghann Plunkett, Jack Skelley, Daniel Tiffany, David Trinidad.

8–9 PM: Building Visions!
Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo, Zoë Edeskuty, Rich Ferguson, Sesshu Foster, S.A. Griffin, Susan Hayden, Anika Paris, Sehba Sarwar, Adam Stutz, David St. John, Gloria Vando, jimmy vega.