Applications open Monday, October 14, 2024, and close Sunday, December 8, 2024. A final decision will be made in March of 2025. The term will begin July 1, 2025. 
Download the complete program details here.

Through this program, the City of Williamsburg will name a Poet Laureate to honor and highlight the City’s community and culture through the artform of poetry. The Williamsburg Public Art Council (WPAC) will facilitate a selection process to make a final recommendation to City Council who will then appoint the position. 

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.

Description of Position

The Williamsburg Poet Laureate serves as an advocate for the City to build awareness of and appreciation for the impact of poetry through public readings and presentations in meetings, events, schools, libraries, and other public settings in the City. 

The Williamsburg Poet Laureate will have the following opportunities:

• Present a reading of their original inaugural poem;
• Work with the WPAC to create and execute a project during their tenure; 
• Help build networks and opportunities for poets and other literary, performing, and/or visual artists to create and engage new audiences; and
• Present additional readings at events mutually agreed upon by the City and the WPAC 

Term of Service

The Williamsburg Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term under the City’s fiscal year which runs from July 1 through June 30. The Poet Laureate will be awarded a $1,500 grant for each year of their tenure. The Williamsburg Public Art Council will review requests by the Poet Laureate for additional funding to support programs and/or projects during their tenure. 

Eligibility & Requirements

The following list of requirements is to be considered for the Williamsburg Poet Laureate:

• Must be residing in the greater Williamsburg area at the time of submission and for the duration of the Williamsburg Poet Laureate’s term;
• Must be 18 years of age at the time of submission; 
• Must have one letter of recommendation from a mentor and/or someone in the writing community (i.e. a teacher/professor, author) that can speak to the applicant’s voice and connection to poetry;
• Must present a body of work that is poetry or poetry-based; 
• Must be willing and able to promote poetry and implement an approved project through the program; and
• Must be actively contributing to poetry or the literary arts as whole.

If the WPAC feels a candidate is more fit for the role without having met all of the above requirements, an appeal may be made. 

Selection Process

Following the Williamsburg Poet Laureate submission deadline, City staff and the Williamsburg Public Art Council will verify eligibility. Staff may follow up for additional information as needed. Incomplete or ineligible submissions are subject to rejection without evaluation. 

The Williamsburg Public Art Council will review all eligible submissions in a public meeting. The WPAC may invite members of the literary community to provide additional evaluation and feedback. 

Evaluation criteria include:

• Merit of the submission itself, including eligibility requirements;
• Record of professional poetry activity and/or achievement (i.e. publications, list of readings/lectures, awards, honors); 
• Artistic merit (i.e. reviews/critical acclaim, originality, innovation, audience reach, etc.); and
• Proposed Community Engagement Project.

A list of finalists no greater than three (3) will then be invited to present to the WPAC at a later date and time. Instructions will be given at that time. 

Of the finalists, the WPAC will select its recommendation for Williamsburg Poet Laureate. The recommendation will be presented to City Council for final approval and appointment. 

Submission Requirement Checklist

The online application form will include the following documentation and materials*. All written documents should be submitted in PDF format. 

• Brief Biography & Poet’s Statement: The statement contextualizes your work and the ideas that form it. It should discuss your work as a poet, the role of a poet in society, and/or what experiences have shaped your own work. (Suggested word count: 300 – 500 words)
• Community Project Idea: The Williamsburg Poet Laureate is expected to design and implement a community project that addresses the intent of the program. Specifically, the community project must use poetry to engage people in exchanges of ideas, stories, and traditions. Please provide a preliminary description of your idea. You may include any activities that you would pursue, possible partners (organizations and/or individuals), settings, and audiences.
  Ultimately, this is your vision for the impact of your tenure and beyond. If selected as a finalist, you may be asked to provide additional details on your project idea. The appointed Williamsburg Poet Laureate will dedicate a portion of the first year of the term expanding on this outline. (Suggested word count: 150 – 300 words)
• One (1) Letter of Recommendation: The letter should be from a mentor and/or someone in the writing community (i.e. professor/teacher, author) that can speak to your voice and connection to poetry.
• Work Samples:
  • Poetry Portfolio: Submit up to 10 examples of original poems, published or unpublished. (Not to exceed 10 pages)
• List of Publications: Submit a list of publication credits. Include individual publications of your work, followed by inclusion of your poems published as part of collections, journals, magazines, e-zines, and websites. (Not to exceed one page)
• Videos: Please provide website links for videos showcasing your poetry readings or public speaking abilities. Accepted links may include social media videos, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
• Supplemental Materials: Materials may include, but are not limited to, programs and other promotional materials for readings or events, news articles/reviews, testimonials, letters of support, or awards.

*Selected applicants may be invited to provide additional information, including an introductory video.

If you have any questions, please contact us.