Are you curious about poetry forms you haven’t tried yet but feel a little intimidated about where to begin? Maybe it’s a method that feels out of reach, or terms you keep hearing but don’t fully understand. First Draft Club isn’t a lecture or critique session. It’s a space to experiment, make ugly drafts, and leave with tools you actually know how to use. Together with poet Ariana Matondo, we’ll explore a range of generative techniques, with plenty of time to write, share, and discover what’s working on the page.

Open to all experience levels. Just bring your journal and an open mind.

Includes admission to Art After Dark. Take in the atmosphere before or after the workshop, wander the galleries, and enjoy Café Clementine’s L’Apéro hours with a selection of beverages and savory and sweet bites.

Thur, July 16, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
$10 for MFA Members
$20 for Not-Yet-Members

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MFA Members enjoy free admission for an entire year, early access to special exhibitions, discounts at the MFA Shop and Café Clementine, special member-only exclusive events, and more. Bring the whole family!

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Ariana Matondo, poet, editor, and teacher 

Ariana Matondo (they/she) is a queer disabled Tanzanian-American poet, editor, and teacher based in Tampa, Florida. Winner of the Zora Neale Hurston Award for poetry (2025), they were named a finalist for the Disquiet Prize for poetry (2025). They are also a recipient of the Sundress Publications Fellowship (2025), Vermont Studio Center Fellowship (2024), Light for Public Health Poetry Prize (2024), and the Bettye Newman Poetry Prize (2024-2025). Matondo has published and forthcoming works in Light Magazine, Honey Literary Magazine, The Common, and more. As the poetry editor for Creation Magazine and CM Editorial House, they are currently pursuing an MFA in poetry at the University of South Florida. Find more at: arianakijamatondo.com.