PORT TOWNSEND — The City of Port Townsend is seeking applicants for a poet laureate program.
The one-year program is a collaboration between the Culture and Society Committee and the Port Townsend Arts Commission, in partnership with the Port Townsend Public Library.
The poet laureate, who will be paid an honorarium, will serve in ceremonial, educational, and inspirational ways in honoring the city’s active creative community, promoting the city’s robust literary arts and celebrating the written word, according to a press release.
“Since I joined the Arts Commission, it’s been my dream to have a Poet Laureate program,” said Nhattaleah Nichols, chair.
“I’m proud of our city for recognizing the importance of poetry in our community, and I can’t wait to see how this program brings more poetry into civic discourse.”
Applications are due by June 30. Each applicant must provide four to six poems from the last three years, a narrative of no more than two pages outlining the intent of the applicant and a curriculum vitae. Applicants must live in East Jefferson County.
“April is National Poetry Month, so it’s a great time to launch this program,” said Owen Roe, Port Townsend Culture and Society Committee chair as well as a council member.
“The Committee and all of City Council look forward to watching this creative initiative unfold, with deep gratitude to the Arts Commission for their thoughtful and diligent work. I encourage all our local poets to apply.”
The position will be the second on the North Olympic Peninsula. Jaiden Dokken became the inaugural poet laureate for Clallam County in a ceremony on April 18.
For more information, and to apply for the Port Townsend position, see https://cityofpt.us/bc-ac/webform/poet-laureate-program-and-application.
