Homegrown Art and Poetry with Jewel Rodgers
Red Cloud Opera House
413 N Webster St
Red Cloud, NE 68970
United States
Join us for an evening of art, poetry, and community! Part of her grassroots Homegrown arts series, 2025-2029 Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers makes her first appearance in Red Cloud to read poems and meet folks in south central Nebraska. Area artists, musicians, and writers are also invited to come and share their own work with others who love fine art and the written word. Guests will have a chance to explore current gallery exhibit Visions of the Prairie by artist and musician Scott Kirby when performances conclude.
Participating artists will have five minutes to share the work of their choosing! The following formats are encouraged:
- Poetry
- Short Fiction
- Paintings
- Photography
- 3-Dimensional Art
- Music (acoustic and small instruments only, please)
The Homegrown project prioritizes accessibility and connection in rural and urban communities by co-hosting small gatherings with Nebraska residents in familiar spaces, reinforcing art and poetry’s communal and conversational roots. This casual and fun event is FREE to attend! We'll even have homemade cookies to share.
Programming at the National Willa Cather Center's Red Cloud Opera House is made possible with the support of the Baldwin Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council, and Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
The National Willa Cather Center is ADA accessible. We offer physical, visual, and audio accommodations for all attendees. If you require handicapped accessible seating, an ASL interpreter, or any other accommodations, please contact our Visitor Services Coordinator, Nick Powers, at npowers@willacather.org. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
About Jewel Rodgers
Jewel Rodgers is the 2025–2029 Nebraska State Poet, a 2025 Academy of American Poets Fellowship recipient, and a 2025 AIRIES Fellow. A three-time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award nominee for Best Performance Poet and a three-time TEDx speaker, she is a nationally touring interdisciplinary performer and spatial practitioner. Jewel merges art, storytelling, and placemaking to inspire and connect audiences across the U.S. and beyond.
She has shared her work across the Midwest and MidAtlantic regions, and her performances have also been featured at civic events nationwide, including in Atlanta and Oklahoma City. In addition, she supports mentorship and community efforts through programs such as the Nebraska Writers Collective’s All Writes Reserved Festival, where she served as a slam coach and workshop facilitator.