Meet the Connecticut State Troubadour and Poets Laureate

Connecticut’s State Troubadour and Poets Laureate are ambassadors of the arts. These inspiring artists are nominated by Connecticut residents and evaluated by a peer panel and the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) for their distinction within their fields, portfolios of work, and contributions to the arts community. The COA is committed to building a community that is respectful and responsive to the diverse talents, skills, and abilities of all people.

Connecticut State Troubadour

Learn about the program 
Kala Farnham

Kala Farnham

Songwriter and instrumentalist Kala Farnham inspires people with her musical storytelling. Kala has received many awards and was named the 2020 Falcon Ridge Festival Emerging Artist.
Learn about the program 

Connecticut State Poet Laureate

Learn about the program 
Antoinette Brim-Bell

Antoinette Brim-Bell

Antoinette is a poet, printmaker, and author of These Women You Gave Me, Icarus in Love, and Psalm of the Sunflower.
Learn about the program 

Connecticut Youth Poet Laureate

Learn about the program 
A a portrait of a young women with long straight dark hair with a blurred background.

Ziyi Yan

Ziyi Yan is writer and performer from Connecticut and Beijing, China. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally by The Poetry Society, The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, and more. 

Learn about the program