SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.—Today, the County of
Santa Clara and Santa Clara County Library District, in 
partnership with SVCREATES, announced
the opening of the application process for selecting the 2018–2019 Santa Clara
County Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate is an honorary post. The selected
poet’s role is to elevate poetry in the awareness of Santa Clara County
residents and to help celebrate the literary arts. The application deadline is
September 29, 2017, 5:00 p.m.
The honorary post of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate was
created by the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on November 18, 2008.
The County works in partnership with SVCREATES to identify a
nominee. The nominee is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill the
two-year post.
“The Santa Clara County Poet Laureate celebrates the
literary arts, engaging poetry enthusiasts and creating a deeper appreciation
for poetry in our community,” said
Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, who is also chair of
the Santa Clara County Library District Joint Powers Authority (JPA)
Board. “We encourage poets from throughout the county to apply for the 2018-19
Santa Clara County Poet Laureate post.”
Four Poets Laureate have served to date: Nils Peterson
(2009-2011), Sally Ashton (2011-2013), David Perez (2014-2015), and presently
Arlene Biala (2016-2017). During his tenure, among several projects, Peterson
created a 100-line poem called “A Family Album, Santa Clara County,
2009.” Ashton led several projects as well and notably created “Poetry on
the Move” that put poetry on VTA railcars and buses. Perez focused on youth
arts education and outreach, teaching a poetry workshop series at elementary,
middle and high schools and introducing poetry to the public via a Poetry Booth
at high profile public events. In Biala’s term, she has led numerous poetry
workshops and has brought a pop-up PoeTREE to many events and public spaces,
encouraging people of all ages to write lines or short poems.
Eligibility Criteria for the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate
· The
Poet Laureate will be available to serve a two-year term
· The
individual will be a current Santa Clara County resident who has resided in the
county for the past three years and has been published or recognized for poetry
and literary contributions.
· The
individual’s poetic interests respond to, or represent, the diversity of arts
and cultures in Santa Clara County
· The
individual has demonstrated a commitment to and passion for poetry and embraces
the opportunity to engage in civic discourse
The Poet Laureate will not be considered an employee of the
County of Santa Clara and will continue to have individual pursuits.
Duties of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate
· Represent
Santa Clara County and the art of poetry through outreach related to poetry
· Participate
in up to five selected County-sponsored events, dedications, or memorials per
year by selecting and presenting appropriate works
· Act as
a resource for poetry and literary activities of the Santa Clara County Library
District
· Lead
and participate in National Poetry Month events and activities
· Undertake
projects throughout the Santa Clara County community that will make poetry more
available and accessible to people in their everyday lives. Actively
participate in social media activity to update the public on Poet Laureate
events and projects
· Contribute
to the creation of a poetic identity for Santa Clara County
The Poet Laureate will receive a modest honorarium.
The selection process will be administered by SVCREATES.
Applications will be peer-reviewed by established poets by October 2017.
Interviews with finalists will be conducted and completed in November 2017. The
recommended Poet Laureate will be announced at a meeting of the Board of
Supervisors in January 2018.
Application guidelines are available at www.sccgov.org/poetlaureate. Applications
should be submitted either by email to grant.apps@svcreates.org or
by mail to: Santa Clara County Poet Laureate, SVCREATES, 38 W. Santa
Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113.
For more information, please contact SVCREATES at grant.apps@svcreates.org or
408-998-2787 ext. 204.
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Media Contact: Audrey Struve, SVCREATES, (408) 998-2787 x204; Laurel Anderson, Office of Public Affairs, (408)
299-5119; and Diane Roche, Santa Clara County Library District, (408) 293-2326 x 3080