Harlem Sculpture Gardens 2027 announces a new Poetry Partnership with Langston's Parlor

New York, NY... In 2027, the West Harlem Art Fund will add an audio poetry walk to its popular outdoor sculpture exhibition. Langston's Parlor, located on East 127th Street in Harlem, will curate all of the poems. Geo-location technology will pair these poems with sculpture works in an app that the public can download for free.

Langston’s Parlor is a thriving weekly poetry workshop that has become one of New York City’s most celebrated creative spaces. Held in the historic home of Langston Hughes, this workshop isn’t just about writing poetry—it’s about building a community where voices resonate, truths are shared, and boundaries are pushed.

With a consistent turnout of 20-30 poets each week, Langston’s Parlor has become a haven and creative hub for poets of all levels. The workshop offers a unique structure that includes thought-provoking prompts, dynamic group discussions, and honest critiques that challenge poets to refine their craft. Here, vulnerability is celebrated, growth is inevitable, and the poems created often rise to award-winning heights, with many finding success in poetry slams and competitions. The workshop fosters connection and inspiration, offering poets the rare chance to share and evolve their work in a nurturing yet challenging environment. It’s more than just a workshop—it’s a community.

Situated in the former home of the late poet, the Langston Hughes House is an Italianate-style dwelling built in 1869. It is a three-story row house with a brownstone facade measuring 20 feet wide and 45 feet deep. Noted African American poet and author Langston Hughes (1902–1967) occupied the top floor as his workroom from 1947 to 1967. The building's owners were Hughes' adopted uncle and aunt, Emerson and Ethel Harper. In this house, Hughes wrote Montage of a Dream Deferred and I Wonder as I Wander.

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and was designated a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1981. Restoration of the building began in 2026.

The Otocast app has been selected to house the walk. It is a GPS-activated mobile platform providing self-guided audio tours. It features localized commentaries on points of interest—such as public art, architecture, and historical sites—narrated directly by local experts, artists, and historians.

Key Features

• Audio & Media Content: Custom audio tracks, photo galleries, text descriptions, and embedded videos for each location.
• Proximity Sorting: Guides and nearby points of interest are sorted automatically based on your current GPS location.
• Interactive Elements: Features gamification tools like scavenger hunts, digital badges, passport challenges, and voting options.
• Navigation: Real-time directions guide users seamlessly from one stop to the next.

According to Savona Bailey-McClain, Executive Director & Chief Curator of the West Harlem Art Fund, "Adding a layer of spoken word to our popular outdoor exhibition is perfect. We want the public to enjoy an immersive experience that has a local flair. We hope visitors across the City will come in 2027 as well."

Eric Feinstein, founder of the Otocast platform added, “we are so excited to be contributing to this important project, assisting in making arts and culture more accessible to everyone.”

The collective at Langston’s Parlor is delighted to be apart of this partnership.