Poet John Giorno (American, 1936–2019) initiated Dial-A-Poem in 1969 to bring poetry into everyday life. Believing that ‘much poetry is intended to be heard, not merely read’, he invited writers, artists, and musicians to contribute works that anyone could access by dialing a hotline. The project later evolved into a gallery installation of telephone sculptures, allowing visitors to listen to randomly selected readings.

In recent years, the project has expanded internationally. Versions developed in France, Mexico, and Brazil showcase works by local makers in their own languages. Dial-A-Poem Hong Kong features newly recorded readings in the original language (Cantonese, English, and Mandarin) by thirty local poets. Visitors can listen to the poems via the telephone sculptures in the Focus Gallery or by calling a local phone number.