The Charles Coe Poet-in-Residence Program
The Charles Coe Poet-in-Residence Program at Manship Artists Residency honors the life and legacy of Charles Coe (1952 – 2025)—beloved Cambridge poet, teacher, mentor, and cultural worker—by establishing a funded residency for a poet within the Manship residency program.
Rooted in Manship’s mission to provide artists with time, space, and community in an historically rich and inspiring natural setting, this residency will support a poet whose practice reflects Coe’s commitments to craft, justice, teaching, and generosity. Charles was one of the first residents to come and spend time at the Manship Artists Residency once it started inviting artists in 2019.
This memorial residency will be fully integrated into Manship Artists Residency’s existing infrastructure, calendar, and stewardship practices, ensuring both sustainability and meaningful impact.
Carry Charles Coe’s Legacy Forward
Support our next generation of poets
The residency will offer juried poets a one-to-three-weeks stay that includes housing, workspace, and a competitive stipend. In keeping with Coe’s legacy, each resident will also engage with the broader community through a public reading and a community-centered activity such as a workshop, school visit, or mentorship session. These elements ensure that the residency is not only a space for creation, but also a catalyst for dialogue, learning, and connection.
Our goal is to establish this residency in perpetuity. An initial seed fund of $35,000–$50,000 will support a multi-year pilot, while a long-term endowment goal of $150,000–$200,000 will sustain an annual or biennial residency for years to come. With your support, we can create a lasting foundation that provides poets with the rare and essential resources they need to develop their work and share it with the world.
Honor the Memory of Charles Coe
Donate to Coe’s Poet-in-Residence Program
In 2023, Charles Coe took us on a walkabout the Manship property, offering insights into his creative process and sharing what it meant to him to be in residence at Manship. We hope you enjoy this footage captured by Manship volunteer and former Board member, Ken Kinna.
