2025 Boston Poet Laureate Application

The Poet Laureate will be a significant fixture in Boston's cultural landscape, creating a unique artistic legacy through public readings, civic events, and community engagement. The Poet Laureate will be able to learn, teach, and be a part of the great literary traditions of Boston. They will attend a variety of civic functions, participate in poetry events, and oversee special civic projects.  

Some duties of the Poet Laureate include, and are not limited to: 

• Present thematically relevant works at civic events and attend official functions as a literary ambassador.
• Develop public programming across the City, including workshops and showcasing events.
• Enhance current Boston Public School and Boston Public Library poetry programs through events, engagement, and outreach.
• Act as the juror for the Mayor’s Poetry Program at City Hall.
• Serve as a resource during National Poetry Month each April.
• Participate in the Youth Poet Laureate application and selection process.
• Mentor the Youth Poet Laureate through regular meetings, public event preparation, published works, and relationships with Boston Public Schools and Boston Public Libraries. 
• Work with MOAC to produce virtual and social media content.

The Poet Laureate serves a four-year term. Moving forward, MOAC is shifting the Poet Laureate timeline to follow the fiscal year (July 1 - June 31). While the Poet Laureate will be announced in January 2025, the official beginning of the four year term will begin July 1, 2025. There will be some programming between January 2025 and July 2025.

A Poet Laureate may serve for one term, with the option to extend their term at the Mayor’s discretion. The role is ceremonial and not a political appointment. If the Poet Laureate cannot fulfill their term due to illness, relocation, or inability to perform, the Laureate Selection Panel shall select a new Poet Laureate to complete the term.

The Poet Laureate program is budgeted $25,000 each year, to be allocated in the following ways:

• Honorarium will total $5,000 per year.
• Programmatic and administrative expenses will total $20,000 per year and will be administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture.

All writings, notes, and original materials produced by the Laureate (as distinct from the poet) during the tenure of the Poet Laureate shall remain the property of the Poet Laureate. However, the City of Boston will have the right to reproduce these works.

To apply, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have resided in the City of Boston for a minimum of two years prior to nomination.
• Display a strong commitment to the community.
• Be active as a professional poet (i.e. a poet whose work has been published and or presented through a process of independent editorial or curatorial review).
• Have produced work that:
  • Demonstrates poetic flexibility (i.e. more than one style),
  • Reflects the vibrancy and life of the City of Boston, and
  • Is significant to the citizens of Boston.
• Be capable and enthusiastic to fulfill duties.

Join the current Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola and MOAC staff for an information session and office hours:

• September 6, 2024, 1 p.m.
• September 12, 2024, 6 p.m.

Attending an info session is not mandatory. Can’t attend but have a question? Contact Tom Johnston at thomas.johnston@boston.gov or 617-635-1238. Answers to frequently asked questions will also be posted on this page leading up to the application deadline.

• A curriculum vitae or résumé.
• Four examples of past published work (may include compact video recordings, disc recordings and audio files).
• A proposal, no longer than five pages, that details how the laureate will benefit, represent, and interact with the citizens of Boston, in accordance with the poet laureate mission statement.
• Confirmation of City of Boston residency. 
• Eight legible copies of the application (for those applying by mail).

Online applications are preferred. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 11, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

APPLY

While digital entries are preferred and strongly encouraged, printed entries are also welcome and will be given equal consideration. To submit a printed application: 

• Click here to download a printable application.
• Mail to: The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture Attn: Boston 2025 Poet Laureate Selection Panel Boston City Hall, Room 802, 1 City Hall Plaza Boston, MA 02201
• All entries must be submitted in a conventional font (such as Times New Roman) at 12-point size.
• Photocopied poems from publications are acceptable, however, name and/or address cannot be included. Do not staple documents.
• If return of materials is desired, enclose a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage.
• Faxed or emailed applications will NOT be accepted.

The selection process will consist of two-phases. After an initial screening of eligible applicants, the Laureate Selection Panel will evaluate all entries and choose their top candidates. The Selection Panel will then hold interviews with the final candidates. During the interview, candidates will be asked to read some of their works, along with answering questions related to how they will make use of the Poet Laureateship.

The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture accepted nominations from community members and has reached out to eligible nominees to invite them to apply. The deadline to submit nominations was Friday, September 13, 2024.