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Michigan Department of Education and Library of Michigan Seek Nominations for Next Michigan Poet Laureate

Michigan Department of Education and Library of Michigan Seek Nominations for Next Michigan Poet Laureate

Date: April 15, 2024
Contact:
Bob Wheaton, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395
Bill DiSessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649

Michigan Department of Education and Library of Michigan Seek Nominations for Next Michigan Poet Laureate

May 06, 2024

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Library of Michigan are seeking public nominations for the next Michigan Poet Laureate.

The poet laureate will meet with students, teachers, and residents across the state in schools and libraries to promote poetry, spoken word, and literary arts.

Nominations can be submitted through the online form found at Michigan.gov/PoetLaureate. To be considered, nominees must:

  • Be 18 years or older with current primary residency in Michigan.
  • Have a robust and sustained body of work.
  • Be an experienced and skilled poet within the literary and/or performance formats.
  • Have the ability to work independently and have good rapport with various audiences.
  • Be skilled at communicating in public and with the media.
  • Have strong social media and promotional skills.
  • Have experience working with audiences of all ages.

Nominees must submit a list or provide links to three work samples and a statement of why they should be considered for the position of Michigan poet laureate. Self-nominations are also accepted. The selected nominee will serve a two-year term starting in 2025. All nominations must be received by May 20, 2024. A selection committee of MDE staff, Michigan poets, and literacy experts will review all nominated poets. The committee will provide a list of finalists to Michigan’s state librarian and superintendent of public instruction, who will decide the final candidate.

Michigan’s first state poet laureate was Edgar A. Guest, who was bestowed the title of poet laureate by the Michigan Legislature in 1952. Guest held the position until his death in 1959.

After several decades with no appointed poet laureate, the Library of Michigan and Michigan Department of Education selected award-winning poet Nandi Comer as the Michigan poet laureate in 2023. Comer’s term concludes at the end of 2024.

Find a list of upcoming poet laureate events at Michigan.gov/PoetLaureate.

Send questions about the nomination and selection process to PoetLaureate@Michigan.gov.

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