The University of Arizona Poetry Center, located at 1508 E. Helen Street on the north side of campus, will close from May 19 to July 7 for renovations intended to foster a greater sense of community and belonging.
Situated within the Helen S. Schaefer building, the center is home to one of the world’s largest freestanding poetry collections, with over 8 million poems available for free public access. Its peaceful environment includes reading areas, art exhibits, murals, and a bamboo garden—making it a unique cultural and creative hub for students, faculty, and Tucson residents alike.
Tyler Meier, executive director of the Poetry Center, described the space as a “national park for the imagination” that inspires new ways of thinking and understanding the world.
“If we want solutions different from those of our past, we need new ways to imagine our challenges,” Meier said. “Poetry offers an exciting new language and frame of reference to explore possibilities.”
The center’s flagship Reading and Lecture Series regularly features nationally acclaimed poets who engage with the university community through public readings and discussions.
A Resource for Students and Faculty
Cameron Carr, a creative writing master’s student, has utilized the center extensively for his thesis research on writing and publishing. Carr accessed the archive of unpublished creative writing theses to study authors’ revision processes by comparing their early drafts with final published works and conducting interviews.
“This opportunity to see unpublished works and understand a writer’s journey to publication is invaluable,” Carr said, highlighting how the center has prepared him for a professional writing career.
Similarly, Claire McLane, associate professor of practice at the W.A. Franke Honors College, incorporates the Poetry Center into her teaching. Her course, Living Poetry, invites students to read poets featured in the center’s Reading and Lecture Series and then meet those poets in person.
“For many students, interacting with living poets—especially those who reflect their own backgrounds—provides a transformative and accessible experience,” McLane said. She also organizes field trips to familiarize students with the center’s resources.
Renovation and the ‘Belonging Initiative’
The upcoming renovation is part of the Poetry Center’s broader Belonging Initiative, designed to create more inclusive spaces and programs.
The project includes the development of the College of Humanities McCauslin-Smith Gardens, a new green space behind the building intended to encourage community gathering. Additionally, the center will launch a poet residency program emphasizing queer voices and will expand its Reading and Lecture Series to include more works by Indigenous authors and Spanish-language poets.
“Belonging is a significant cultural and societal challenge,” Meier said. “We believe poetry and shared poetry experiences can help build broader conditions for belonging.”
The Poetry Center will reopen with its renovated spaces and new residency program in the upcoming academic year.
