Anthology, Inc.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Located on the web at Anthology.org
Originally founded as a locally produced poetry zine in 1990, Anthology has grown into a prominent literary nonprofit in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area. Anthology is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, as well as by the State of Arizona as a tax exempt corporation.
Anthology's mission is to promote performance poetry and associated literary arts in the greater Phoenix community by providing opportunities for artists to perform their work and by making spokenword arts accessible to a diverse audience.
The organization traces it's roots back as far as 1990 through Anthology magazine and The Essenzaslam Poetry Slam (Mesa Slam).
[edit] Anthology, Inc. Sponsored Events and Programs
Anthology currently sponsors or has sponsored the following events: The Essenzaslam Poetry Slam
The Greater Phoenix Poetry Slam
Spokenworld.com 2002 Cactus Regional Poetry Slam, The Mesa National Slamoff, The Cthulhu Beach Party, The Poe Show, The Limerick Challenge
[edit] Governance
Anthology, Inc. is governed by a seven member Board of Directors. As of 1/1/2007, they were:
Resa Ferreira
Trish JusTrish
Jordan Dorf
[edit] Anthology, Inc. Historical Timeline
1990 Joseph A. Giunta, as a student at Arizona State University, creates a locally produced and distributed digest poetry “zine” called Anthology. Comprised mostly of his own writings initially, he expands submission availability each year.
1994 Joe hands off Anthology’s name rights to local poet Bob Nelson, Bob becoming Publisher and Joe becoming the Executive Editor of the magazine. The magazine changes format to a full 8.5”x11”. Seperatley, Bob Nelson founds the Essenzaslam Poetry Slam at the Essenza Coffeehouse in Mesa, AZ.
1995 Anthology signs with a National Magazine distributor. Bob Nelson organizes the largest single day poetry event in Phoenix up to that time, on National Poetry Day (October 15th), eight simultaneous poetry readings occur in different local cities in the valley.
1996 Anthology published first “color cover” issue. Joseph Giunta founds a network based gaming business and leaves Anthology. Sharon Skinner replaces him as Executive Director. The Essenzaslam Poetry Slam sends it’s first “team” (Mesa Slam Team) of poets to compete at the National Poetry Slam in Portland, OR. Anthology’s first website is founded.
1999 A team of poets from the Essenzaslam Poetry Slam reaches the semi-finals of the national Poetry Slam in Chicago, Il. Bob Nelson founds SpokenWorld.com, partnering with entrepenour Jordan Dorf in an Internet Radio Endeavor. Anthology magazine celebrates five years of publication.
2000 A team of poets from the Essenzaslam Poetry Slam reaches the semi-finals of the national Poetry Slam in Providence, RI. Sharon Skinner founds Radiant Readings, an audio recorded program of classic and contemporary authors. A decidion is made to organize all literary endeavors of the involbed parties under one name, Anthology. Anthology, Inc. is incorporated in the State of Arizona. Anthology releases it’s first recorded compact disc, The Best of Essenzaslam: The 2000 Slamoff.
2001 The 100th episode of the SpokenWorld Show is broadcast. Anthology, Inc. is awarded IRS 501(c)(3) status. Anthology launches Voices of Youth, a Youth based performance poetry program. The first ever Poe Show, a fundraiser for Anthology, Inc. is held.
2002 Anthology holds the first ever Inkzilla Literary Magazine festival in Mesa, AZ and over 20 different literary magazines across the country participate. The Mesa National Slamoff becomes the largest single poetry event ever in Phoenix, with over 250 people attending the event. Mesa Poet Corbet Dean finishes second in the Nation at The National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, MN. Anthology plays host to the Cactus Regional Poetry Slam, with teams from Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona competing for cash. The Mesa National Slam Team becomes the state champions at The Slab City Slam held in Arcosanti, AZ.
2003 Anthology partners with Poetry Perk, Inc. in opening The Anthology Café, a coffeehouse dedicated to the literary arts. The Slamology Poetry Slam is founded as well. The Mesa National Slam Team becomes the state champions at The Slab City Slam held in Arcosanti, AZ.
2004 Anthology magazine and the Essenzaslam Poetry Slam celebrate 10 years of existence. For the fist time ever, Anthology releases a DVD of performance poetry, the 2004 Mesa National Slamoff. The Mesa National Slam Team becomes the state champions at The Slab City Slam held in Arcosanti, AZ.
2005 The Anthology Board of Directors votes to place Anthology magazine on hiatus. The Mesa National Slam team reaches the semi-finals of the National Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, NM. The Anthology Café, and the Slamology Poetry Slam are closed. Anthology founds The Greater Phoenix Poetry Slam in partnership with The Paper Heart.
2006 Anthology founds The Valentine’s Day Massicree as a new event. The Mesa National Slam Team becomes the state champions at The Slab City Slam held in Arcosanti, AZ., marking the fourth year out of the first six years the event has been held that Mesa has won. Anthology hosts The Cthuhlu Beach Party, as a celebration of the release of The Call of Cthuhlu silent film.
2007 Anthology expands Voices of Youth by partnering with the Valley’s local library systems. Anthology founds the Limerick Challenge, a partnership with The Irish Cultural Center.
