“More poetry, less demo.” Does that sound like your typical school motto? It’s the guiding principle of the School for Poetic Computation. We are standing in front of the School for Poetic Computation now.
This isn’t just any school. The School for Poetic Computation is a unique hybrid. It blends a school with a residency and a research group. It all began in 2013 right here in New York City.
Zachary Lieberman, Taeyoon Choi, Amit Pitaru, and Jen Lowe co-founded the school. They envisioned a space where art and technology could meet. Their focus was on creative exploration. Code, art, hardware and theory all intertwine here. The school especially emphasizes artistic intervention and code poetry.
Forget formal classes. At the School for Poetic Computation, students dive straight into creative projects. The goal? To produce more poems and fewer demos. This reflects a commitment to artistic expression over mere technical display.
In 2020 the school underwent a significant transition. Discussions arose about the handling of Black Lives Matter issues. Zachary Lieberman stepped down. The administration shifted to a collective organization. The SFPC Stewards now run the school. This team centers BIPOC disabled and queer makers. Zainab Aliyu, Todd Anderson, American Artist, Neta Bomani, Melanie Hoff, Galen Macdonald, and Celine Wong Katzman are the co-directors.
The School for Poetic Computation’s mission extends beyond art. It embraces decolonization and transformative justice. The school offers programs rooted in solidarity. They empower individuals through technical and political understanding. They aim to build just communities.
SFPC sees itself as a platform. It welcomes those who are Black Indigenous people of color trans gender non-conforming queer disabled survivors and those from low-income backgrounds. The school wants everyone to feel empowered. SFPC believes that their ideas are important necessary and central.
The School for Poetic Computation stands as a testament. It shows that technology and art can blend. It’s more than just a school. It is a community. It is a space for creative rebellion and poetic expression.