Cleveland State University Poetry Center

The Cleveland State University Poetry Center is a literary small press and poetry outreach organization in Cleveland, Ohio, operated under the auspices of the English Department at Cleveland State University. It publishes primarily original works of poetry by contemporary writers, though it has previously also published novella and occasional works of criticism or translated poetry collections. It was founded in 1962 by poet Lewis Turco at what was then Fenn College, attained its present name two years later when Fenn College was absorbed into the newly founded Cleveland State University, and began publishing books in 1971. Its current Director and Series Editor is poet and professor Michael Dumanis.

History
In its history, the poetry center has published more than 150 titles, including works by David Baker, Scott Cairns, Jared Carter, Chrystos, Martha Collins, David Graham, Richard Hague, Mark Jarman, Claudia Keelan, David Kirby, Thomas Lux, Thylias Moss, Amy Newman, Mwatabu S. Okantah, Carol Potter, Claudia Rankine, Tim Seibles, Larry R. Smith, Judith Vollmer, Jeanne Murray Walker, Sam Witt, and Franz Wright.

Poetry center competitions
In recent years, the poetry center has acquired the majority of its books through two annual poetry contests, the First Book Competition for new poets and the Open Competition for poets who already have published books. Recent judges for the First Book Competition have included the poets Rae Armantrout, Nick Flynn, Matthea Harvey, and D. A. Powell. Since 2008, the Open Competition has been juried by a permanent panel consisting of poets Kazim Ali, Mary Biddinger, Michael Dumanis, and Sarah Gridley.

Recent and forthcoming publications
Recent and forthcoming publications include books by Samuel Amadon, John Bradley, Lily Brown, Elyse Fenton, Emily Kendal Frey, Dora Malech, Shane McCrae, Helena Mesa, Philip Metres, Zach Savich, Sandra Simonds, S.E. Smith, Mathias Svalina, Allison Titus, Liz Waldner, Allison Benis White, and Jon Woodward.

The authors it publishes frequently go on to win major literary prizes. Most recently, Poetry Center author Elyse Fenton won the 2010 University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize for her collection Clamor. A Whiting Writers' Award was awarded to Poetry Center author Shane McCrae for his collection Mule.

The Cleveland State University Poetry Center was selected by the Huffington Post as one of the 15 independent, small-press publishers that exemplifies "the best qualities of this publishing tradition."

The poetry center also hosts a Visiting Writers/Reading Series for the university community. It is a member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, and its recent titles are distributed by Small Press Distribution.