Somerville Seeks Resident to Serve as City’s Poet Laureate

SOMERVILLE – The City of Somerville is seeking candidates for its next Poet Laureate to enhance the profile of poets and poetry in Somerville and surrounding communities. The Poet Laureate is expected to help expand access to poetry in parts of the community that traditionally have less exposure to it like older adults and youth. The Poet Laureate, a position appointed by the mayor, will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2019 and will be provided an honorarium of $2,000 per year.

The Poet Laureate will be chosen based on a series of criteria, including excellence in craftsmanship, professional achievement, and creating a vision for the position. To download the guidelines and application, please visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org/poet. Applications are due by Monday, November 5 at the close of business. For more information please contact Arts Council Director Gregory Jenkins by email at gjenkins@somervilllema.gov or by calling 617-625-6600 ext. 2985.

Since 2015, the City of Somerville has supported a Poet Laureate. Nicole Terez Dutton served as the first poet in 2015 and 2016.  The term of the second poet, Gloria Mendock, will expire in December 2018. Both poets have provided readings for City inaugurals, worked with local schools, and hosted public readings with other poets. 

The City of Somerville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun,at the address noted below:

Nency Salamoun, JD
NSalamoun@somervillema.gov
(617) 625-6600, Ext. 2323 (Voice)
(617) 808-4851 (TTY)