Awards & Honorees ///
Beyond Baroque’s awards tradition began in 2011 as a way to honor poets, writers, artists, publishers, organizers, and supporters whose work has helped shape poetry and literary culture in Los Angeles and beyond.
The original awards recognized two forms of contribution: outstanding achievement in poetry and distinguished service to the Los Angeles poetry community. Over time, Beyond Baroque added additional forms of recognition, including the Alexandra Garrett Award for Service to Beyond Baroque, special anniversary honors, and occasional awards for extraordinary contributions to the organization and its larger community.
The awards have been presented at Beyond Baroque’s awards dinner and, in recent years, its gala. After a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration returned in 2023 and 2024.
George Drury Smith Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry
Named for Beyond Baroque’s founder, the George Drury Smith Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry honors a poet whose work has made a significant contribution to the art of poetry and has helped bring wider attention to poetry beyond Los Angeles.
2011 David St. John
2012 Wanda Coleman
2013 Eloise Klein Healy
2014 William Mohr
2015 Suzanne Lummis
2016 Holly Prado
2017 Paul Vangelisti
2018 Kamau Daáood
2019 Harryette Mullen
2023 Lynne Thompson & Amy Gerstler
2024 Sesshu Foster
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award honors writers, organizers, publishers, teachers, and literary advocates whose long-term work has strengthened the poetry and literary community of Los Angeles.
2011 S.A. Griffin
2012 Amélie Frank
2013 Mike Sonksen
2014 Rick Lupert
2015 Elena Karina Byrne
2016 Luis Rodriguez
2017 Wayne Lindberg & Hilda Weiss
2018 Jack Grapes
2019 Diane Luby Lane
2023 Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo & Hiram Sims
2024 Ashaki Jackson & Douglas Messerli
Alexandra Garrett Award for Service to Beyond Baroque
The Alexandra Garrett Award for Service to Beyond Baroque recognizes individuals whose generosity, commitment, and work have made a lasting contribution to the organization.
2017 Jim Fleck
2018 Viggo Mortensen
2019 Johanna Drucker
2023 Bob Branaman & Ed Ruscha
50th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Award
The 50th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Award was presented in 2018 as part of Beyond Baroque’s 50th anniversary celebration. This special honor recognized an artist whose work embodies the creative range, experimentation, and literary significance that have defined Beyond Baroque across its history.
2018 Will Alexander
Special Recognition
In addition to its recurring awards, Beyond Baroque has occasionally presented special honors in recognition of extraordinary artistic achievement, institutional service, or contributions to the larger literary and artistic community. These recognitions are given as circumstances warrant and are not necessarily awarded every year.
2019 Richard Modiano
2023 Jim Krusoe & Amanda Gorman
2024 John Doe & Exene Cervenka