Alexandria Seeks Poet Laureate For 3-Year Term

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts is seeking its next Poet Laureate. The selected person will serve in the position for three years and receive a modest annual honorarium.

Duties for the positions are to "promote an appreciation of poetry as an art form, promote creative writing and reading of literature, and promote literacy through poetry." The Poet Laureate is ceremonial role, which includes presentations of work appropriate for all audiences.

City residents can nominate themselves or another city resident. Nominees must be distinguished in the field of poetry through their work, be a resident of the City for a minimum of one year, maintain residency through the three-year term, and be at least 18 or older.

The online submission deadline is Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. To submit a Poet Laureate application, visit the Office of the Arts website and scroll to the Poet Laureate Program.

Alexandria's Poet Laureates have included:

• Wendi R. Kaplan, 2016-2019
• Ryan Wojanowski, 2016-2016
• Tori Lane Kovarik, 2013-2016
• Amy Young, 2010-2013
• Mary McElveen, 2007-2010
• Jean Elliott, 1979-1999

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