City of Minneapolis Poet Laureate Award 2025-2026
This grant provides funding and support for a professional poet to serve as an ambassador for Minneapolis's literary culture, engaging the community through poetry projects and educational initiatives over a two-year term.
The City of Minneapolis, in partnership with The Loft Literary Center, has announced the search for the 2025-2026 Minneapolis Poet Laureate. This two-year term will begin on January 1, 2025, and end on December 31, 2026. The Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for the city's literary culture, promoting poetry and the literary arts by engaging with the community through meaningful projects, public service, and educational opportunities. The position seeks to leverage poetry's transformative power to address civic issues, bring people together, and create a lasting cultural legacy. Responsibilities for the Poet Laureate include writing a poem reflecting the current state of the city, participating in three official city events annually, organizing a public poetry event, and teaching two classes at The Loft Literary Center. Additionally, the Poet Laureate will have a budget of $4,000 to design and execute a civic project that involves youth or addresses community issues through poetry. The honorarium for the role is $16,000, paid quarterly over the two years. The laureate will also be eligible to apply for the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships, which offer a $50,000 grant for significant civic literary projects. Applicants must meet several eligibility criteria: they should be at least 21 years old, a resident of Hennepin County for at least one year, and a professional poet with published, performed, or recognized work. A significant connection to the Minneapolis community is essential, and candidates must not be current employees or board members of The Loft Literary Center. Applications will be evaluated based on literary excellence, community impact, project feasibility, and engagement with the city’s cultural landscape. The application deadline is November 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CT, and submission guidelines are available on The Loft’s website. The selection panel, composed of representatives from the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department and other arts community members, will make the final decision unanimously. This initiative builds on the work of the current Poet Laureate, Heid E. Erdrich, who has set a significant precedent for the role by receiving recognition from the Academy of American Poets.
Award Range
Not specified - Not specified
Total Program Funding
$50,000
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligibility and Selection The Laureate will be selected by a panel of five judges through an open application process administered by the Loft. In order to be eligible to apply, applicants must: Have the ability to complete the mandated expectations and duties over the course of the term Be at least 21 years of age Be an active professional poet whose work has been published, performed, reviewed, and/or honored Be a resident of Hennepin County for a minimum of one year Have a significant connection and commitment to the Minneapolis community See poetry as an opportunity to engage, serve, and celebrate the Minneapolis community Must not be a board member or a full- or part-time employee of The Loft Literary Center The Poet Laureate will be considered based on their eligibility and the content of their application. The selection panel is made up of members of the Minneapolis Arts Commission and other arts community representatives. The panel will be selected by the city of Minneapolis and The Loft Literary Center. The panel must come to a unanimous decision to select the Poet Laureate. In addition to fulfilling the eligibility requirements, applicants will be reviewed based on this additional criteria: The literary excellence of the poet’s work amidst the contemporary poetry landscape The community impact of the poet on other artmakers in the city of Minneapolis The feasibility of any proposed public engagement projects The wider reputation of the poet and their work Their works’ engagement with the city of Minneapolis
Geographic Eligibility
Hennepin County (MN)
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
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