Poetry After Dark: Free Late-Night Wednesday

About Poetry After Dark

In this special edition of Late-Night Wednesday, celebrate New York City's unique voice through poetry performances, music, and interactive writing prompts. Presented in collaboration with the New York Black and African Literature Festival, the evening will feature music by Jeanchalant with live poetry readings between songs, alongside a community writing activity.

From 6:30–8:30 p.m., join us for a DJ set with performances by poets from across the five boroughs. Each poet will share a piece about, set in, or inspired by New York City. Throughout the evening, visitors are also invited to write their own verses in response to city-inspired prompts and to share their poems, memories, or letters in a collaborative display.

About Free Late-Night Wednesdays

The Museum’s free Wednesday admission program is expanding to include late-night hours through the end of the year. Visit MCNY for free on Wednesdays until 9 p.m., and explore the Museum’s full slate of current and critically acclaimed exhibitions. From 5–9 p.m., enjoy a pop-up bar with signature cocktails, soft drinks, and snacks.
 

Featured Poets

Queens—Trace Howard DePass is the winner of 2024 Emily Dickinson Award from the Poetry Society of America and the author of chapbook BOOTless → (Diode Editions 2024). His work has been featured with Poetry Foundation, Ours Poetica, NPR’s The Takeaway, SAND, Brooklyn Poets, Split This Rock, Poetry Project, Bettering American Poetry, and the Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day series. DePass is a fellow with Poets House, Obsidian, and Teachers & Writers Collaborative.

Brooklyn—Brey (Bri) is a spoken word artist who transforms lived experiences into raw, authentic poetry centered on truth, resilience, and self-expression. She holds a Master’s degree in English and American Literature from NYU, blending academic insight with personal storytelling to create emotionally grounded work. Beyond the stage, Brey is an educator who works with teens ages 13–18, helping young people discover and develop their voices through literature and writing.

The Bronx—Cito Blanko is a Bronx-born poet, author, educator, and recording artist whose work explores identity, culture, masculinity, grief, love, and legacy. A Recording Academy member and founder of Words That Write You, Cito blends spoken word, hip-hop, neo-soul, and storytelling to create honest conversations rooted in our shared humanity.

Staten Island—Matt Figgz: The winner of numerous grants from the Staten Island Council of Arts, Matt Figgz is an educator at both the college and middle school levels. He is cofounder of Poetry in the Park, partnering with various organizations to provide free literary programming for the shaolin community and beyond. Matt’s poetry collection, Adolescence, is available on Amazon.

Manhattan—Brittany Barker is a child of God, an award-winning poet, and educator from Harlem, NYC. As Executive Director of Creative Soul House, Brittany has been an active advocate for community wellness, impacting hundreds of youth and adults, using art as a tool for self-discovery, transformation, and social change. She holds a Bachelor Degree (BA) in English Literature, a Master Degree (MAT) in Secondary Education, and has served as an educator for over 10 years. Brittany Barker ranked 3rd in the world at the 2023 Womxn of the World Poetry Slam. Her poetry has graced stages such as Lincoln Center, The New Amsterdam Theatre, and The Apollo Theatre. She is a member of the 2025 Nuyorican Poet Cafe’s national slam team, and has coached two teams, including Urban Word NYC’s 2024 Youth Slam Team and, currently, New York University’s Slam team. Brittany’s one-woman show, Standing Upright in the Crooked Room, toured cross-states at TheaterlabNYC and Dickinson College in PA. Her newest production, Magic in the Middle, is currently on tour. She is the author of WOUND HONEY. Drawing on inspiration from God, loved ones, and art, her goal is to creatively use her gifts to invite people into the truth.