CATA riders to benefit from MSU's Poetry in Motion

For many CATA riders, commuting just became more cultured. The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities Center for Poetry at Michigan State University, CATA and the Michigan Humanities Council have partnered up to bring Poetry in Motion to the Greater Lansing area. 
 
 Poetry in Motion is a nationwide public arts program designed by the Poetry Society of America. It pairs artistically designed signs featuring poetry and public transportation to give riders and entertaining and uplifting cultural experience.
 
“You know, it’s a simple way to get poetry in to public spaces,” says Stephanie Glazier, assistant director for the RCAH Center for Poetry at MSU. “I think it’s a good way to showcase the creative energy that often goes unseen in the city. It’s public art. When I walk around the city I want to see more of that.”
 
The collaborative project allowed 20 to 30 students to get involved by designing and printing the signs to be displayed. CATA has provided the space for displaying the poetry signage, and the Michigan Humanities Council contributed a $250 grant toward the project.
 
Poetry in Motion began February 1 on 12 CATA buses servicing five routes in East Lansing and Lansing.

“It’s a pilot project in the true sense,” says Glazier. “We hope to scale it up next fall. It’s the first time anyone has done it in Michigan, and it puts us in the company of some impressive cities.”