A Celebration of Art, Poetry, and Downtown Tulsa
Each spring, Curbside Haiku transforms Downtown Tulsa’s streetscape with poetry and art, bringing creativity to unexpected places. This temporary public art project, presented by Downtown Tulsa Partnership, activates tree wells and planter beds with haikus and visual artwork from local Tulsans.
Artists
Calling all visual artists! We are looking for one talented artist to design the backdrop for this year’s Curbside Haiku installation. This paid opportunity offers $750 to the selected artist, whose work will be featured on 10 art boards placed throughout Downtown Tulsa.
- The selected artist will work from February 13 – March 3 to create their final design.
- The artwork will be printed on 24” x 18” yard signs and installed Downtown from March 18–21, remaining on display through late May.
- While optional, the artist is encouraged to present their work at the Magic City Book Bash in April alongside the featured poets.
Submission Deadline: February 10, 2025, at noon.
Poets
Do you have a way with words? Curbside Haiku is an open call for poetry, inviting Tulsans of all ages and experience levels to submit their original haikus. 10 winning poems will be selected and displayed throughout Downtown Tulsa for 45 days in March and April.
- What is a haiku? A haiku traditionally follows this format:
- Line 1: Five syllables
- Line 2: Seven syllables
- Line 3: Five syllables
- (Creative variations are welcome!)
- Selected poets will be invited to perform their haikus at the Magic City Book Bash in April, in partnership with Magic City Books and the Woody Guthrie Center.
Submission Deadline: February 23, 2025, at noon.
In 2024, a call to the public to submit short poems called haiku resulted in 155 entries from people of various ages, a 40 percent increase over 2023 participation. Judges from Downtown project partners Magic City Books and the Woody Guthrie Center selected 10 haiku winners and DTP commissioned artist Jessica Newman to design a backdrop for the poetry.
The 2024 winning poets are Suzanne Bruce, Claire Collins, Jewell B N Hunt, Page Isley, Cheryl Kane, Paige Palestini, Teresa Parker, Cheryl Sanders, Ellen Stanley, and Jeff Thompson: