The New York City Reading Series Census is an ongoing project to catalogue the contemporary literary scene. Any reading series curator in the New York area can take the survey here.
What is the name of the series, and what is the significance or meaning of the series name?
The Segue Reading Series refers to the Segue Foundation that has sponsored the series since 1982.
Who founded the series, and who runs it now?
The series was started by Ted Greenwald and Charles Bernstein at the Ear Inn. Segue Foundation took over the series in 1982.
What genres or mediums does the series include?
The Segue Reading Series (SRS) is devoted to presenting the many varieties of innovative writing and performance. Our readers come from all over the world, mostly English speaking and predominantly US writers. The SRS focuses on innovative writing, but also presentation in visual media and digital formats.
What is the format of the series?
Usually two readers with a short intermission.
Where does the series take place?
The SRS takes place currently at the Zinc Bar, 82 W 3rd St, NYC 10012.
When and how often is the series performed (and is it seasonal)?
The readings start at 4:30pm each Saturday from October – May.
How long has the series been active?
The SRS started in 1979.
Where can people find information about series on the web?
The calendar is at our site seguefoundation.com/calendar.htm and on Facebook at SegueReadingSeries (https://www.facebook.com/groups/149879539425/)
Do you take submissions, solicit material, or a combination?
Curators determine the calendar for their two month cycle, see below. Segue largely solicits although there are a few submissions.
Did you set out with specific goals when the series was launched and have they changed over time?
The series started with the same goals it has now: to promote the best in innovative, avant garde and experimental writing and associated presentations. How that is implemented has changed. See below.
What distinguishes the series from others?
The open process by which readers are chosen has distinguished the series for the past 10 – 15 years. Pairs of curators, usually younger writers, are chosen to present their idea how to best represent new, innovative, experimental, avant garde and alternative writing. Each series has a related but different set of readers and presenters because each pair of curators sees the writing world differently. As a result each two month series has a different set of readers. This two tier process insures that a wide variety of readers can show off their work as individuals and as part of a group of writers with similar interests.
The next Segue reading is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at Zinc Bar and features Myung Mi Kim and Joey Yearous-Alogzin.