State Seeks New Poet Laureate

AUGUSTA, MAINE--The Maine Arts Commission (MAC) announced today that the State will be selecting a new Poet Laureate to succeed current laureate Wesley McNair, who has held the position since 2011. The State Poet Laureate is appointed for a five-year term and may be reappointed for a second consecutive term. Submissions from interested Maine poets will be accepted through December 22, details below.

Maine’s Poet Laureate position is an appointment designed to promote poetry throughout the state while honoring an eminent Maine poet for his or her achievements. The position was established by Maine statute in 1995. The specific duties of the Poet Laureate are minimal to ensure incumbents have maximum freedom to work on their own projects during their tenure, and include an annual lecture and reading of his or her poetry; participation in the Maine Arts Commission’s administration of the national Poetry Out Loud project; as well as appearances and events to broaden appreciation and understanding of, and participation in, poetry in Maine communities.

Each Poet Laureate brings a different emphasis to the position. McNair’s public projects to date have included a public address each Poetry Day and Take Heart: A Conversation in Poetry, a weekly newspaper column, both in collaboration with the Maine State Library and the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance; and the Maine Poetry Express initiative. To learn more about these programs go to http://maine.gov/msl/poetry/index.shtml.

McNair is the state’s fourth poet laureate. His predecessors include Kate Barnes (1996-1999), Baron Wormser (2000-2005), and Betsy Sholl (2006-2011).

To be considered for this appointment, poets must be full-time Maine residents and have a distinguished body of poetic work. Please submit up to five poems, totaling no more than 10 pages, as well as a one-page statement outlining your vision for your public role as Poet Laureate and a copy of your resume no later than December 22 to Julie Richard, Executive Director, Maine Arts Commission at Julie.Richard@maine.gov. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.