By designating a poet laureate, ArtsFairfax seeks to raise the visibility of poetry by celebrating and supporting a poet who can engage new audiences, create new opportunities for poetry to be shared, and encourage the creation of poetry and other literary works.
Donor Name: ArtsFairfax
State: Virginia
County: Fairfax County (VA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): 07/30/2022
Grant Size: $5,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
Fairfax County names the Fairfax Poet Laureate to honor a poet and elevate the visibility of poetry throughout the County. The Poet Laureate Program recognizes a professional poet’s achievements and their demonstrated history of accomplishments, and it promotes their continued pursuit of their creative work while creating opportunities for connection between the Poet Laureate and Fairfax County communities
The Fairfax Poet Laureate serves to build awareness and appreciation of poetry through public readings, workshops and/or presentations in communities, schools, libraries, and other public settings in diverse areas of the county. The selected Poet Laureate will have the following leadership opportunities:
- Lead activities during National Poetry Month (April);
- An inaugural reading;
- Consult with ArtsFairfax to create and execute a community service project to be accomplished during their tenure. Project activities will use the arts and humanities to help foster literacy among young people, expand audiences and appreciation for poetry, and create engaging cultural experiences for county residents;
- Help build networks and opportunities for poets to read and engage new audiences with local businesses, book festivals, schools, and other venues;
- Provide an original poem at the end of the Poet Laureate term as a reflection on their tenure; and
- Represent Fairfax County at events as mutually agreed with ArtsFairfax.
Through the Poet Laureate Program, ArtsFairfax seeks:
- To recognize and provide support for poets and writers;
- To use the arts and humanities to engage people in cross-cultural and community-wide exchange of ideas, stories, and culture;
- To encourage wide participation in poetry through diverse cultural programming available to all residents of Fairfax County;
- To promote opportunities for poets, literary organizations, and writers to create, present, and celebrate their creative endeavors; and
- To be a catalyst for increased private sector support for poetry and other literary activities through leveraged public funding
Funding Information
The Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term (October 1, 2022-September 30, 2024) and will be awarded $5,000 for each year. Supplemental funding will be used to support program activities, specifically the community engagement project, during their tenure.
Eligibility Criteria
Poets are requested to submit their qualifications for designation as the Fairfax County Poet Laureate. The selection of the Poet Laureate is based on the submissions, which will be reviewed by a panel of experts in the field of poetry.
- Individuals must reside in Fairfax County for at least 12 months prior to the submission deadline. Submissions must include proof of residency. Residency must be in the applicant’s name. Residency is based on the applicant’s physical residence [home], not on a P.O. Box, studio/workspace, or other property owned by the applicant. The Poet Laureate must remain a resident of Fairfax County for the duration of their tenure.
- Individuals must be at least 21 years of age at the time of submission.
- Individuals must be actively working in and/or deriving income from poetry.
- Individuals must have demonstrated experience publishing and/or presenting original poetry including at least one work by an established press (please, no-self publications or subsidy press books), or a combination of at least two of the following: poetry journal, magazine, or website that are not predominantly self-curated, personal websites, or personal blogs.
- Individuals must be identified as a primary author of work(s) described in the application.
- Individuals must not be enrolled as an undergraduate student in a degree or entry level, certification program related to poetry or writing.
- For the specified two-year period, the individual must be willing and able to promote poetry, inform the design and participate in implementation of the community service project, lead or participate in workshops, readings and other activities around Fairfax County and the region.
- Individuals may not have been appointed Fairfax Poet Laureate previously
For more information, visit ArtsFairfax .
