Cave Canem

From their mission statement: "Cave Canem is a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of Black poets. Founded by artists for artists, Cave Canem fosters community across the diaspora to enrich the field by facilitating a nurturing space in which to learn, experiment, create, and present. Cave Canem develops audiences for Black voices that have worked and are working in the craft of poetry."

Lannan Foundation is honored to be Cave Canem’s longest-standing and largest donor. Ours is a 30-year partnership. Lannan made a first grant to Cave Canem in 1998 and has made annual grants since 2007, totaling more than $3.4M in cash grants so far, with support extending through 2028.

Beyond grants, Cave Canem has been one of the inaugural residents in a shared Lannan work and community space in New York. In 2006, Lannan’s Readings & Conversations series presented a special Cave Canem Evening. In 2024, Lannan honored co-founders Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady each with the Lannan Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement, following on the same award in 2021 for Honorary Director Yusuf Komunyakaa. Honorary Director and former board chair Tyehimba Jess received a 2016 Lannan Literary Award for Poetry.

From the Cave Canem community of Fellows, Faculty, and Honorary Directors, more than 40 have been part of Lannan awards and other programs: 17 hold Lannan Literary Awards or Fellowships (19 awards in all), including Lucille Clifton, Nikki Finney, John Keene, Claudia Rankine, and Adrian Matejka; 23 were Residency Fellows in Marfa, Texas; and, 27 participated in the Lannan Readings & Conversations series.

Cave Canem
New York, NY