Updates

Mar 18, 2022

We are pleased to announce the imminent appointment of our new Art Bar Director. Paul Edward Costa, former Poet Laureate of Mississauga. He takes up the reins from Margaret Code who wholeheartedly endorses this renowned new member of the Art Bar team. Paul will take the reigns beginning April 19, 2022.

Feb 20, 2022

Thank you Kathy Flaxman and The Toronto Star for this Special piece. We are beyond grateful to have been featured as a Together Place for those interested in poetry to gather -- for the last 30 years. To 30 more!

Feb 18, 2022

I will be vacating the Director's chair in April and am currently talking to people who might be interested in replacing me at the helm of the Art Bar.
This role makes avery rewarding contribution to the arts in Canada (We do have poets in to read from across Canada now and then when we're live,)
and provides a chance to meet and mingle with a host of wonderful poets. The Art Bar's support team is dedicated and hard-working. I have depended greatly on them over these past 5 years.

Please get in touch at artbarpoetry@gmail.com if you're interested or want to know more.

Feb 11, 2022

The contact form on the website is working properly again and all submissions for feedback and inquiries will be directed to artbarpoetry@gmail.com. Thank you for your understanding as we know this was a much needed adjustment.

Jan 31, 2022

Hurrah. The Art Bar is going live again!

When and Where?

• Tuesdays at Clinton’s (693 Boor W. south-west corner of Clinton and Bloor near Christie)

• 7 p.m.

Covid Precautions

• Bring proof of vaxes, ID, and a mask

• Big space for social distancing

$10 admission

Looking forward to seeing you again!

- Margaret Code

Nov 1, 2021
A great starting point for anyone interested in the ins and outs of social media and all things poetry. Art Bar Poetry Series has just celebrated 30 years as a leading poetry venue in Toronto for diverse poets new and established. With the advent of Covid, we moved online to keep the community happy and thriving! Following our (live) Dead Poets Night on Dec. 14, 2021, we plan to be back to live events regularly in January 2022!

See Here For Role Description.

Dec 14, 2021

The Art Bar Poetry Series returns to in-person events, starting with the 18th annual meeting of The Dead Poets Society. The Dead Poets Society Night is an annual tradition at the Art Bar Poetry Series. It normally is held as the last Art Bar of the calendar year, usually in mid-December. The poets performing read from the poetry of dead poets. There are normally three sets of four readers and no open stage. Readers generally read for 6-8 minutes each. The first one was held on December 17, 2003. It has three influences: first, the film, the Dead Poets Society; second, a Poems of the Century Night organized by Allan Briesmaster that was held at the Art Bar in December 1999; and third, a Dead Poets night organized by Alex Boyd at the I.V. Lounge Reading Series, which was held in 2002. See Here For More Info.

Sep 22, 2021

Dear Art Bards,

Thank you all for your support and dedication to Art Bar through the years and especially now, during the pandemic. We are enjoying your enthusiasm for keeping our community alive and well. Although we are staying online for the time being, there is still much to look forward to and we hope to have some special surprises for you in the near future🤫. As of right now, Art Bar is looking for a volunteer to publish a short article on our group; what we've been up to, the experiences you've had being part of the community, what you're looking forward to, etc. Interview-style with Margaret or just your general thoughts would be wonderful. We would be very grateful for your contribution and would love to hear your views on "poetry during a pandemic" for insights on how we can meet your needs, either as a poet or a friend of poetry, through all of this.

​

If you’d like to tackle this, please email our lovely director, Margaret Code, at artbarpoetry@gmail.com.

All the best and happy writing!

Mar 31, 2020

As a result of the Coronavirus, we are not able to hold our regular events at the Free Times Cafe so we are bringing a bit of poetry into your home! Our events will now be held virtually. At 8:00 pm on Tuesday nights you can find us on our Facebook page, here, where we will be hosting feature poets.