2019-2021 Seattle Civic Poet: Call for Poets

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Public Library seek an experienced poet for a two-year City residency as literary ambassador. The Civic Poet will foster community dialogue and engagement between the City, the public, and other artists while celebrating the literary arts. The program, launched in 2015, continues the legacy of the Poet Populist program by supporting the practice of literary arts and promoting local literary arts organizations.

The Civic Poet will generate a work plan for each year that includes public readings at up to five municipal events annually and community engagement opportunities such as classes, workshops, lectures, and readings to engage diverse communities of all ages. The Civic Poet will also plan and schedule monthly poetry presentations to the Seattle City Council Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts committee. The two-year commission compensation is $10,000, allocated at $5,000 per year, to cover writing, administration, performances, event costs, materials, travel, fees, taxes, and other project-related costs.

Eligibility: Applicants must be Seattle-based (residence in the city of Seattle), eligible to work in the U.S., have an established body of work including published works and reading/spoken word experience, demonstrate interest and experience in promoting equity and inclusion through the arts, and show strong program planning and implementation skills. Applications must include a statement of interest (2,000 characters maximum), description of how work will reflect new and different voices through poetry (2,000 characters maximum), description of capacity to plan and implement projects (2,000 characters maximum), résumé (three pages maximum), one letter of recommendation, two poems (no longer than five pages each), and materials showing proof of establishment in the field including publication cover/article/promotional piece and audio/video of significant performance. An optional workshop is offered Saturday, February 16, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Seattle Public Library – Columbia City Branch, 4721 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, Washington 98118. Contact Irene Gómez, Civic Poet Program Manager, at [email protected] or 206.684.7310 with questions.