Lamorinda Arts Council calls for poet laureate applications

Lamorinda Arts Council president Lawrence Kohl announced the formation of a Poet Laureate Program, which marks the first opportunity of its kind for our local literary community. Thanks to endorsements from the city councils of Orinda and Lafayette, the Lamorinda Arts Council PLP will manage and support the poet laureate who will serve both Lafayette and Orinda.

The poet laureate will be called upon to write theme-based poetry and read poetry at civic and other events such as public ceremonies and dedications. They will also support the Lamorinda Arts Council PLP activities in the schools and community and serve as a liaison with literary organizations. Goals of the program include: Encourage poetry and the literary arts in our communities; stimulate and inspire residents of all ages in their writing; and present poetry in non-traditional venues to expand its reach

Members of the Poet Laureate committee include Connie Post, former Livermore poet laureate, who has assisted area communities in creating laureate programs, Janice Peacock, who is a member of the Lafayette Public Art Committee, LAC Board member Denise Nomura, Gail Entrekin of Hip Pocket Press in Orinda, Jennifer Shaw with the Institute for Poetic Medicine who's work also appears in The East Bay Times, Sue Janet Clark of Lincoln, poet and founder of Lincoln's Poetry Open Mic, Robin Moore of AC5's Poetry Out Loud program and Elana O'Loskey of The Orinda News.

The selection committee will review potential candidates and recommend a poet laureate to the two city councils to be appointed in early 2018. The poet laureate will serve a two-year term and receive a yearly $3,000 stipend. Professional poets who live and/or work in the cities of Lafayette or Orinda are eligible. Duties include poems of occasion for community and civic events, poetry events including K-12 schools and more.

According to Lamorinda Arts Council president Lawrence Kohl, "We are very excited to be able to work with the cities of Lafayette and Orinda to create this important post. Poetry is both personal and public; using words in rhyme and rhythm to uncover emotional truths that bind us together."

Poets interested in this position are invited to apply online at https://lamorindaarts.org/poet-laureate-application/. The deadline to receive all online applications is at 5 p.m. Dec. 31.

If you are interested in volunteering to become involved in the Poet Laureate Program and help organize poetry events and activities, go to http://lamorindaarts.org/volunteer and check the Poet Laureate box.



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