about the instructor
Ariana Brown (she/they) is a queer Black Mexican American poet from San Antonio, TX. She holds a B.A. in African Diaspora Studies and Mexican American Studies as well as an M.F.A. in Poetry. Ariana is a 2014 national collegiate poetry slam champion. She is the author of We Are Owed. (Grieveland, 2021) and Sana Sana (Game Over Books, 2020). She has been writing, performing, and teaching poetry for 13 years. Find her work online @ArianaThePoet.
As a teacher, Ariana believes there is no wrong way to write a poem. She encourages discovery by asking participants to identify what excites them or what they notice most about poems. Ariana is skilled in teaching writers of all levels, creating opportunities for everyone’s thoughts and experiences to live harmoniously in the classroom. She teaches from a queer Black feminist approach, meaning she invites participants to safely engage in vulnerability and mutual support, as she works to craft a comfortable and challenging learning environment for all.
As a teacher, Ariana believes there is no wrong way to write a poem. She encourages discovery by asking participants to identify what excites them or what they notice most about poems. Ariana is skilled in teaching writers of all levels, creating opportunities for everyone’s thoughts and experiences to live harmoniously in the classroom. She teaches from a queer Black feminist approach, meaning she invites participants to safely engage in vulnerability and mutual support, as she works to craft a comfortable and challenging learning environment for all.
upcoming virtual classes
Make Your Poetry Come Alive: Developing an Interdisciplinary Art Project
Saturday, Feb 4
One-Day Class
$75
Have you ever wondered what lives your poems could lead off the page? Have you ever wondered how to tap into your creative side when experiencing writer’s block? In this one-day lecture, Ariana Brown will help participants visualize how to incorporate poems they’ve already written into interdisciplinary art projects that can be showcased in non-traditional poetry spaces such as museums, theaters, public and social media.
We will begin with a short seminar on interdisciplinary art projects, which includes examples of audio, visual, performance, and tech-based poetry projects. Generative exercises will jumpstart the creative process and help participants understand the many forms their previously written work can take. Group discussion and Q&A will close out the session to ensure everyone leaves with feedback and a detailed project plan.
Don't forget to sign-up for Part 2 happening in March, which will focus on applying for artist grants to fund these projects! View access statement here.
Saturday, Feb 4
One-Day Class
$75
Have you ever wondered what lives your poems could lead off the page? Have you ever wondered how to tap into your creative side when experiencing writer’s block? In this one-day lecture, Ariana Brown will help participants visualize how to incorporate poems they’ve already written into interdisciplinary art projects that can be showcased in non-traditional poetry spaces such as museums, theaters, public and social media.
We will begin with a short seminar on interdisciplinary art projects, which includes examples of audio, visual, performance, and tech-based poetry projects. Generative exercises will jumpstart the creative process and help participants understand the many forms their previously written work can take. Group discussion and Q&A will close out the session to ensure everyone leaves with feedback and a detailed project plan.
Don't forget to sign-up for Part 2 happening in March, which will focus on applying for artist grants to fund these projects! View access statement here.
Artist Grants 101: The Application Process
Saturday, March 18
One-Day Class
$75
If you’ve got an exciting idea for an artistic project, but you need funding to complete it, this is the lecture for you. In this one-day seminar, Ariana Brown will walk participants through the process of applying for artist grants. Topics covered include types of grants, budgeting, promotional strategy, and artist statements.
We will begin with a short presentation on how to find artist grants and the types of projects they can be used for. Generative exercises and prompts will help participants find the words to convey the significance and scope of their projects. Ariana will also discuss strategies for altering projects to fit specific grant requirements. Q&A will close out the session to ensure everyone leaves with detailed feedback and a plan for how to complete a grant application. View access statement here.
Saturday, March 18
One-Day Class
$75
If you’ve got an exciting idea for an artistic project, but you need funding to complete it, this is the lecture for you. In this one-day seminar, Ariana Brown will walk participants through the process of applying for artist grants. Topics covered include types of grants, budgeting, promotional strategy, and artist statements.
We will begin with a short presentation on how to find artist grants and the types of projects they can be used for. Generative exercises and prompts will help participants find the words to convey the significance and scope of their projects. Ariana will also discuss strategies for altering projects to fit specific grant requirements. Q&A will close out the session to ensure everyone leaves with detailed feedback and a plan for how to complete a grant application. View access statement here.
Embracing Your Softness
Saturdays April 1-22
Weekly Class
$185
Embracing our own softness can feel impossible in a world which tells us we must develop thick skin in order to survive. This class asks: “How can we allow ourselves to find the power in tenderness, in softness?” Together, we will explore the capabilities of tenderness, focusing on self-care and communal care, through weekly writing exercises and group dialogue.
We will study poems by Black queer and trans authors such as Alan Pelaez Lopez, Sasha Banks, Claudia Wilson, and Venus Kii Thomas. Ariana will facilitate group discussion about our relationships with tenderness based on our positions within capitalism and empire. Writing prompts will help participants understand their own tenderness and offer ways to practice it more intentionally in the future (with ourselves and others).
Participants are invited to create new work in any form, especially creative nonfiction, memoir, personal essay, journaling, song lyrics, and of course, poetry. Each session includes dedicated time to write, discuss, and share new work, as well as a lesson on creating visual poems. Writers of all experience levels ages 18 and up are encouraged to attend. This class holds a maximum of 35 students.
Saturdays April 1-22
Weekly Class
$185
Embracing our own softness can feel impossible in a world which tells us we must develop thick skin in order to survive. This class asks: “How can we allow ourselves to find the power in tenderness, in softness?” Together, we will explore the capabilities of tenderness, focusing on self-care and communal care, through weekly writing exercises and group dialogue.
We will study poems by Black queer and trans authors such as Alan Pelaez Lopez, Sasha Banks, Claudia Wilson, and Venus Kii Thomas. Ariana will facilitate group discussion about our relationships with tenderness based on our positions within capitalism and empire. Writing prompts will help participants understand their own tenderness and offer ways to practice it more intentionally in the future (with ourselves and others).
Participants are invited to create new work in any form, especially creative nonfiction, memoir, personal essay, journaling, song lyrics, and of course, poetry. Each session includes dedicated time to write, discuss, and share new work, as well as a lesson on creating visual poems. Writers of all experience levels ages 18 and up are encouraged to attend. This class holds a maximum of 35 students.
questions?
Email Ariana at abrownpoetry@gmail.com. Please note that class prices are non-negotiable. Sometimes when Ariana offers independent classes, she is able to offer sliding scale or reduced fees. Some classes above may offer scholarships depending on the organization Ariana is partnering with. Click "Sign Up" under the class you are interested in for more details. Sign up for Ariana's email list to receive emails whenever Ariana is offering a new class.
Want to help support low-income students who want to take Ariana's classes? The best way to offer your support is by signing up to contribute a monthly amount (as low as $5) to Ariana's Patreon. When Ariana reaches the ability to raise $2000 per month, she will be able to offer *free* virtual classes on a regular basis.
Want to help support low-income students who want to take Ariana's classes? The best way to offer your support is by signing up to contribute a monthly amount (as low as $5) to Ariana's Patreon. When Ariana reaches the ability to raise $2000 per month, she will be able to offer *free* virtual classes on a regular basis.
