Stockton Accepting Applications for City Poet Laureate

City Poet Laureate Applications Now Accepted
An opportunity to serve the City of Stockton and become part of our shared history

STOCKTON, Calif. – The City of Stockton is seeking a Poet Laureate to bring poetry to the community and to foster an appreciation of poetry in the lives of community members. Poet Laureates are a tradition of governing bodies dating back to the 1300s. The role of the Poet Laureate is to memorialize special occasions and events through the composition of original works of poetry. The deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m., on May 30, 2023.

Once appointed by the City Council, the new Poet Laureate will serve for a two-year term, beginning July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025, with one optional additional two-year term, approved upon mutual acceptance. The stipend is $3,500 per year. Qualified applicants must reside within the city limits of the City of Stockton and remain a resident within the City limits for the entire term(s) of service. The Stockton Arts Commission will review applications, conduct preliminary interviews with applicants meeting the qualifications, and make a recommendation to the City Council during the month of June.

Interested candidates must complete an application including a complete listing of published work and samples of work, such as poetry and literary compositions, as directed. The application and recruitment details are available at www.stocktonca.gov/arts.

For questions or additional information, please contact Ben Keisic at benjamin.keisic@stocktonca.gov or call (209) 937-8285.

To learn more about the Stockton Arts Commission, visit www.stocktonca,gov/arts and “Like” at www.facebook.com/stocktonart.