Adams County Poet Laureate Residency

Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts (POSCA) in collaboration with Anythink Libraries seeks an experienced poet, performer, and artist to serve as the Adams County Poet Laureate for a two-year residency (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027). The selected poet will engage directly with Adams County residents of all ages and backgrounds to mobilize communities through poetry and create original works inspired by their experience. The residency is a highly visible role providing a local, recognized poet an opportunity to advance their art practice, advocate and promote their work, and serve as a public face for Adams County.

The total artist stipend is $50,000, paid in equal quarterly installments over the 24-month period. The budget covers all costs associated with executing the residency including administration and planning, site visits and meetings with Anythink and Adams County staff, writing of original works, advising and collaborating on poetry anthology, performances and poetry readings, execution of community programs county-wide, consultants and subcontractors' fees, travel, and insurance. The program has three main components: community programming, creation of original works, and performances. The Poet Laureate will perform at up to 10 events for each year of the residency and will collaborate with Anythink Libraries and Adams County Cultural Arts to create programming including National Poetry Month events, Winter Programming, and other opportunities across Anythink branches and countywide.

Eligible applicants must be professional artists based in Colorado with an established body of work including published/self-published works, reading/spoken word, performance experience, and community engagement experience. Applicants must have a connection to Adams County (residence, roots, community, or workplace), experience writing and publicly reading and performing, experience planning and leading poetry and literary arts programming, and willingness to travel to locations across Adams County for regular in-person meetings. Bilingual poets are encouraged to apply. Submission requirements include a letter of interest, statement about connection to Adams County, statement about approach to community engagement and public programming, resume or portfolio of professional accomplishments, portfolio of poems and writing samples (3-4 pieces total, each no more than one page, with at least 2 pieces in English), and URL web links to video of 2-4 performances. Applications must be submitted via the CaFÉ online application system. There is no application fee.