Local writer hosts poetry workshops

Community members invited to poetry workshops at John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Annandale

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Local writer Lisa Lowry is hosting a pair of poetry workshops at John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Annandale. The workshops, titled "Poetry for All", will be held on February 19 and 26 and are open to writers of all levels. Each session will include guided writing exercises, poem discussions, and the opportunity to write and share original poems.

Why it matters

The poetry workshops reflect a growing interest in the Annandale community in the value of arts and culture. The workshops are part of a larger trend of increased arts programming in the area, including regular art openings, events, classes, and an annual arts festival.

The details

The "Poetry for All" workshops will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. on February 19 and 26 at the John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Annandale. The classes will focus on a relaxed and accessible approach to poetry, beginning with guided writing exercises, followed by discussions of various poems, and ending with the opportunity for participants to write and share their own original poems. The cost is $15 per session, and people can sign up for one or both classes.

  • The workshops will be held on February 19 and 26, 2026.
  • The workshops will take place from 10-11:30 a.m.

The players

Lisa Lowry

A local writer in Northern Virginia who is leading the poetry workshops. When she is not writing, she helps run Kids Comic Unite, an online community for graphic novel creators. Her fiction has been published in Mash Stories and the Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review.

John Calvin Presbyterian Church

The church in Annandale, Virginia that is hosting the poetry workshops.

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What they’re saying

“The poetry workshops reflect a growing interest in our community in the value of arts and culture in civic life.”

— James Albright, Chair of the Mason Arts Council (annandaletoday.com)

What’s next

More arts activities are coming this year, including art social hours, a community-wide series of art-inspired events around the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, more classes, and the second annual Mason District Arts Festival on Oct. 7.

The takeaway

The poetry workshops in Annandale are part of a larger trend of increased arts programming in the community, highlighting the growing appreciation for the value of arts and culture in civic life.