Event Report: Hot Springs Poetry Festival Kickoff Celebration

On Saturday, November 1, I had the joy of taking part in the Hot Springs Poetry Festival Launch Party at Kollective Coffee + Tea, alongside a strong lineup of poets: Kai Coggin, Samyak Shertok, Greg Brownderville, Sandy Longhorn, Acie Clark, Kalina Smith, and Toni Garcia-Butler.

The evening was alive with language, laughter, and the hum of community. The air in Kollective, a space that has long championed poetry and the arts in Arkansas, felt electric with connection and creativity.

I want to take a moment to thank the festival’s organizers, Samm Małkowska and Catherine Buercklin, whose vision and dedication made this event, and the entire week of programming, possible. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive, vibrant literary culture in Hot Springs is something truly special.

About the Festival

The Hot Springs Poetry Festival exists with a powerful mission:

• Celebrate Diverse Poetry – Hosting readings, workshops, and interactive events to showcase poetry in all its forms.

• Empower Local Voices – Providing paid opportunities for Arkansas poets and partnering with local businesses to amplify the literary arts.

• Ensure Accessibility – Offering free programming, educational resources, and inclusive spaces that welcome everyone.

Its vision is equally inspiring: to reimagine public spaces as stages for poetic expression, to elevate Arkansas arts as a cornerstone of our cultural identity, and to inspire lifelong engagement with poetry across generations.

Being part of this festival reminded me that poetry doesn’t just live on the page. It lives in people, in the spaces that nurture creativity, and in communities that gather to listen and celebrate.

I am already thinking of ways SRP can align with the Hot Springs Poetry Festival next year.

Thank you, Samm and Catherine, for building something that makes Arkansas poetry shine.