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Cultural Affairs Office

Poet Laureate Call for Applications and Nominations

Houston Poet Laureate Program
Call for Applications and Nominations

DEADLINE: December 11, 2024, 11:59 p.m. CST

GUIDELINES

Mission Statement:  The Houston Poet Laureate Program (HPLP) celebrates Houston’s rich culture and diversity through the work of a poet who will represent Houston by creating excitement about poetry through outreach, programs, teaching, and written work.

Term of Service: The term of service is two years. The current term will commence in April 2025 and expire in April 2027.

Term Expectations:

  • Develop a community outreach project in which the Poet Laureate shares the art and love of poetry with a non-traditional and/or underserved audience.  Examples of past outreach programs include:
    • Development of a social media platform for the Houston Poet Laureate to engage with all Houstonians.
    • Creation of an anthology of Houston’s Favorite Poems, modeled on former U.S. Robert Pinsky’s national project (http://www.favoritepoem.org/).
    • Creation of a community performance poetry videos to be released on social media highlighting various Houston neighborhoods.
    • Launch of a broadsides project showcased online.
  • Plan and execute 8 community virtual workshops in coordination with the Houston Public Library Programing Dept. during term as Poet Laureate
  • Provide content to the Houston Poet Laureate Facebook page and other social media venues.
  • Work with and provide mentorship to the Houston Youth Poet Laureate.
  • Prepare and provide an annual written report of activities.

Criteria for Nomination and Selection of Poet Laureate:

  • Have strong ties to the city of Houston and a strong interest in serving the city.
  • Reside in the City of Houston. Residency is based on the applicant’s physical residence [home], not on a P.O. Box, studio/workspace or other property owned by the applicant. Proof of residency is required.
  • Have documented experience in public speaking, teaching and/or public performance.
  • Must have any of the following history of publications:
    • A body of published work, including at least one full-length book (not self-published); or,
    • At least 20 published poems in established publications (print or online) over the past 5 years; or,
    • Ten published poems in established publications (print, online or video) over the past 5 years plus at least one top-10 individual ranking in a national or international poetry slam (not self-curated) within the last 5 years.
  • Must be at least 21 years of age and not currently enrolled in an academic program.

APPLICATION/NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • A nominating statement of two or three paragraphs detailing why the nominee would be a good selection for the Houston Poet Laureate Program. (Can be prepared by applicant or person nominating applicant.)
  • Proposal for a community outreach program, not to exceed one page. (Must be prepared by the applicant/nominee.)
  • A writing sample of 10-15 pages in length consisting of select poems or other literary works.
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae, not to exceed two pages (showcasing publication history, experience in public speaking, teaching and/or public performances).
  • Brief biography, not to exceed 250 words.
  • Completed application packets should be submitted via online submission form. (Note: All nominations submitted must be complete and fulfill all requirements. Incomplete nomination packets will not be considered).

SELECTION PROCESS:

The Houston Poet Laureate Selection Committee, a group of acknowledged and diverse poets, scholars, and literary experts, will recommend a candidate to the City. The group is co-chaired by a representative of the Houston Public Library and a representative of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, both of whom will be non-voting members of the committee.

The selection committee will review all eligible applications, which will be scored on a 100-point scale, with up to 40 points for artistic merit of the work sample, up to 30 points for experience and background, and up to 30 points for the quality of the proposed outreach project.  Finalists will be interviewed in person by the committee in early February 2024.

The Poet Laureate will be announced in April 2025 to coincide with National Poetry Month.

HONORARIUM

The Houston Poet Laureate will receive a total honorarium of $20,000 over the two-year term to be awarded in the following manner:

  • $5,000 upon signing of the contract.
  • $10,000 in April, 2026, upon receipt of the Poet Laureate’s Annual Report. This signifies the beginning of the second annual term.
  • $5,000 in April, 2027, upon receipt of the Poet Laureate’s Final Report. This signifies the end of the appointment.