Nominations are not being accepted at this time.
The nomination submission period for Oregon’s ninth Poet Laureate closed January 13, 2018. A recommendation has been made to Governor Brown and the official announcement was made on May 15, 2018.
An independent selection committee composed of poets, poetry advocates, literature lovers, and cultural leaders will review each nomination and consider the merits of each nominee related to the criteria. The selection committee will interview the top candidates, report to the Oregon Cultural Trust, and make a recommendation regarding the laureate to the Governor. The Governor will appoint the Poet Laureate.
Oregon’s Poet Laureate must be committed to bringing poetry to a wide range of places and people, have a significant body of publically accessible work, agree to the period of the appointment, and be prepared to undertake a significant cultural project and the public role required of the laureate. Poets of all subgenres (e.g., prose, slam poetry, cowboy poetry) and styles will be considered.
The Poet Laureate will receive an honorarium of $15,000 per year during the term of service. Each term is two years. In addition, the planned activities and travel for the Poet Laureate will be supported through an annual travel subsidy of up to $10,000. The Poet Laureate will participate in a minimum of ten public readings/events in urban and rural settings across the state.