WILLIAMSBURG— The City of Williamsburg has opened applications for its inaugural Williamsburg Poet Laureate.
At its August meeting, the Williamsburg Public Art Council (WPAC) approved a program for appointing an official poet laureate. Through this program, the City seeks to celebrate and support a poet who can engage new audiences and create new opportunities for poetry to be shared and encouraged.
This program is a means to spotlight the City of Williamsburg community through a poetic voice that will champion the arts as a whole.
The City says that the Williamsburg Poet Laureate will serve as an advocate for the City honoring and highlighting community and culture through the artform of poetry. The program is intended to build awareness of and appreciation for the impact of poetry through public readings and presentations in public settings in the City.
The Williamsburg Poet Laureate will be appointed by City Council to serve a two-year term under the City’s fiscal year which runs from July 1 through June 30. They will be awarded a $1,500 grant for each year of their tenure. During this time, the selected individual will present a reading of their inaugural poem; help to build networks and opportunities for poets and other literary/visual/performing artists to create and engage new audiences; present additional readings at events mutually agreed
upon by the City and WPAC; and execute a project specific to their application.
“The WPAC is thrilled to be elevating the art of poetry and its community impact through Williamsburg’s first Poet Laureate program,” said Robert Currie, WPAC Chair. “Poetry has had a profound impact on my life, both creatively and personally. It is our hope that through the Poet Laureate program, we can inspire and bring people together through this art form.”
The application process is currently open and will close Dec. 8. A final selection will be made by March 2025.
The selected winner will then be recommended for appointment during City Council’s meeting in April 2025 to align with National Poetry Month. The inaugural Poet Laureate’s term will begin July 1, 2025.
Additional details including eligibility requirements may be found online.
