City of Seattle: 2017 Civic Poet Program - Call for Poets

The Civic Poet Program supports an experienced poet with a two-year City residency as literary ambassador. The program fosters community dialogue and engagement between the public and artists while celebrating the literary arts. It continues the legacy of the earlier Poet Populist program, which was instituted in 1999 and discontinued in 2008.

Eligibility is open to Seattle-based poets with an established body of work including published works, racial equity and/or spoken word experience. Applicants must be Seattle-based, eligible to work in the US, have demonstrated interest/experience in promoting equity and inclusion through the arts, and show strong engagement with different communities and audiences.

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, curatorial services, and readings to engage diverse communities. 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 budget is $10,000 ($5,000 per year) to compensate time for writing, administration, performances, event costs, materials, travel, fees, taxes and other project-related costs.

Applications must include: a statement of interest (2000 character limit), commitment to poetry and relationship to Seattle (2000 character limit), description of promotion of racial equity and inclusion through poetry (2000 character limit), resume (up to 3 pages), one letter of recommendation, two poems (total 10 pages) as literary work sample, and material showing proof of establishment within the field (publication cover, article, promotional piece, or audio/video of significant performance). Finalists will be asked to create a draft work plan for presentation to the selection panel. A peer review panel composed of professional literary artists, administrators of literary organizations and community representatives will assess applications based on advanced skill as a poet, demonstrated ability to engage audiences, experience in racial equity work, and relationship with Seattle. Applicants will receive notification in July 2017. An optional workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 6, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 12th Ave Arts Conference Room, 1620 12th Ave (second floor offices), Seattle, Washington 98122.