Welcome!
We're here for you if you believe that poetry matters now. You, too, if you believe that poetry doesn't matter now -- and maybe never did. And you, as well, if you'd like to get in on matters of poetry, now.
As it says, we're "roaming the big tent of American poetry." We're on the lookout for the essences.
America's poets and the voices and forms they give rise to are many and varied, of course, and there is (or is not) a poetry renaissance going on. We've come to believe that the time to look and listen more closely, more attentively, is now. (That's about the only bias we will admit to having.)

Three Projects. One is a feature documentary intended for theatrical release in 2008 (keeping our fingers crossed). Another is a series of documentary shorts and profiles of some of America's master poets, intended for everyone, for public television, schools and so on. The third is this Web site. The projects are not-for-profit.

The Feature Documentary. Is being made for people who don't necessarily have an interest in poetry, and certainly for those who do. We plan to present poetry in its abundant diversity, personified. We're working with a diverse group: some of America's most senior master poets; poets, teachers and critics writing, reading and teaching in our schools and universities; established and emerging "slam" and spoken word artists; hip-hop poets; cowboy poets; and an array of people young and old for whom poetry is a passion.

Documentary Shorts and Poet Profiles. You can sample these from our homepage. Featuring readings, conversations, roundtable discussions, etc., the shorts bring attention to what's going on in "the big tent," while the profiles present more in-depth insights into some of America's master poets. These feature intimate conversations about life experiences and about the writing and reading, meaning, purpose and value of poetry.

REMproductions. The media group of the Lempert Family Foundation, meaning the growing number of film and media professionals involved in the planning and production of the projects. The foundation is a private operating foundation established in New York State in 1998. It is classified under section 4942((jj)(3), tax exempt under section 501(c)(3).

A PROJECT OF THE LEMPERT FAMILY FOUNDATION

© 2008 Lempert Family Foundation. All rights reserved.