Toward the end of the current Oregon Poet Laureate’s term, the Governor may request the formation of a committee to recommend an individual for the next Oregon Poet Laureate.
The nomination period for the next Oregon Poet Laureate is currently closed. We anticipate the next review process will begin in late fall of 2023. At that time, an announcement will be made that we are accepting nominations and will detail that process here. In the past, we have accepted nominations, invited qualified candidates to apply, assembled a review committee, and put forth a recommended individual to the Governor for confirmation.
An independent selection committee composed of poets, poetry advocates, literature lovers, and cultural leaders will review each nomination and consider the merits of each nominee related to the criteria. The selection committee will review the top candidates, report to the Oregon Cultural Trust, and make a recommendation regarding the laureate to the Governor. The Governor will appoint the eleventh Oregon Poet Laureate in the spring of 2024.
Oregon’s Poet Laureate must be committed to bringing poetry to a wide range of places and people, have a significant body of publicly accessible work, agree to the period of the appointment, and be prepared to undertake a significant cultural project and the public role required of the laureate. Poets of all subgenres (e.g., prose, slam poetry, cowboy poetry) and styles will be considered.
The Poet Laureate will receive an honorarium of $15,000 per year during the term of service. Each term is two years. In addition, the planned activities and travel for the Poet Laureate will be supported through an annual travel subsidy of up to $10,000. The Poet Laureate will participate in a minimum of ten public readings/events in urban and rural settings across the state.
Questions? Contact oregonpoetlaureate@oregonhumanities.org.