SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) in partnership with SVCREATES and with support from Poetry Center San José, invite local poets to apply for the position of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate for 2027-28. The Poet Laureate is an honorary post that acts as an advocate for poetry, literature, and the arts, taking part in public readings and participating in civic events.
“Poets shed new light on the human experience and make us think, feel and dream,” said County Librarian Jennifer Weeks. “We are happy to once again partner with SVCREATES to help select a new local ambassador for this art form and to offer our libraries as a space to put on events for members of the public of all ages.”
The next Poet Laureate will serve from January 2027 – December 2028 and will receive a stipend of $6,000 per year. Applications will be accepted from July 6 – August 14, 2026, at 5 PM PST using SVCREATES’s online portal: SVCREATES.org/Poet-Laureate
The County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors created the Poet Laureate role on November 18, 2008. The Santa Clara County Library District works in partnership with SVCREATES to identify a nominee, who is then appointed by the Board of Supervisors to fill the two-year post.
“The next County Poet Laureate will have an opportunity to uplift the voices and stories of our diverse and vibrant artistic community,” said Alexandra Urbanowski, CEO of SVCREATES. “Santa Clara County is made up of a powerful mix of influences from many cultures, generations, and artistic forms, and we hope poets from all backgrounds and corners of the county will consider applying for this position.”
Eligibility Criteria for the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate:
- The Poet Laureate must be available to serve a two-year term
- The individual must be a current Santa Clara County resident who has lived in the County for the past three years
- They must be a published or recognized poet with a passion for community engagement
- The individual must be able to travel across the entirety of Santa Clara County for events
- Finalists for the post must complete a background check to work with minors
Core Duties of the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate:
- Work on signature events, including designing and hosting the San Jose Poetry Invitational for National Poetry Month in April
- Conduct five readings or workshops annually at Santa Clara County Library District locations.
- Participate in up to 10 civic events or speaking engagements per year
- Actively share and promote Poet Laureate projects via social media
Workshops and virtual 1:1 appointments provided by SVCREATES for interested poets:
- Milpitas Library: In person workshop Tuesday, July 7 from 6:30-7:30pm (no registration required)
- Zoom: Online information session Wednesday, July 10 (register here)
- Gilroy Library: In person workshop Monday, July 13 from 6:30-7:30pm (no registration required)
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of literary professionals and community leaders from the Greater Bay Area through late summer/early fall 2026. Interviews with finalists will be conducted and completed in October 2023. The recommended Poet Laureate will be selected by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and announced at a Board meeting in November 2026.
For special accommodation for application submission outside of the online submission process, contact Jessica Kwong at SVCREATES: jessica@svcreates.org or 408-998-2787, ext. 219.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Founded in 1914, its collection includes more than 2 million books, videos, audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
SCCLD includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library, serving the cities of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.
Find the Santa Clara County Library District online: www.sccld.org. Like us on Facebook. Look for us on Instagram. We also are on Threads. You can also find us on YouTube: scclchannel or @SCCLD. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sccld.org/news