SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. — The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) and the County of Santa Clara, in partnership with SVCREATES and Poetry Center San José, announces a call for 2024-2025 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate applications. The Poet Laureate is an honorary post that acts as an advocate for poetry, literature, and the arts. They also contribute to Santa Clara County’s poetry and literacy legacy through public readings and participation in civic events. The next Poet Laureate will serve from January 2024 – December 2025 and will receive a stipend of $6,000 per year, a budget of $1,000 per year for reimbursable expenses related to their activities, and the opportunity to publish a chapbook through Poetry Center San José. Applications will be accepted from August 11 through September 22, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
“The Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for the art of poetry and the spoken word across the County,” said Jennifer Weeks, County Librarian for the Santa Clara County Library District. “We look forward to working with the new County Poet Laureate to host and participate in poetry and other events for the community at our libraries.”
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 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. Seven Poets Laureate have served to date: Nils Peterson (2009-2011), Sally Ashton (2011-2013), David Perez (2014-2015), Arlene Biala (2016-2017), Mike McGee (2018-2019), Janice Lobo Sapigao (2020-21), and the current title holder Tshaka Campbell (2022-23).
Campbell conceived and produced Bringing the Light: In Our Words, a series of initiatives to uplift youth poets through the publication of an anthology, projections of images of poems in public spaces, and postings on VTA vehicles. He has also been active during his term in attending local events across the County, including at SCCLD libraries.
“Santa Clara County is a wonderful mix of influences from many cultures across the world. The County Poet Laureate is a great opportunity to represent and grow our vibrant artistic community in new and exciting ways,” said Alexandra Urbanowski, Associate Director for SVCREATES.
Poets May Now Apply for Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Post
Eligibility Criteria for the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate
- The Poet Laureate will be available to serve a two-year
- 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
- The individual has demonstrated a commitment to and passion for poetry and embraces the opportunity to engage with the community through the arts.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of literary professionals from the Greater Bay Area through October 2023. Interviews with finalists will be conducted and completed in November 2023. The recommended Poet Laureate will be announced at a meeting of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in January or February of 2024.
All application materials will be submitted through the SVCREATES online grant portal. For details about the County Poet Laureate program and to apply, visit https://svcreates.org/poet-laureate/, opens a new window. For special accommodation for application submission outside of the online submission process, contact Alyssa Erickson at SVCREATES: alyssae@svcreates.org or 408-998-2787, ext. 204.
