How do I apply for poet laureate?
We are not currently accepting Poet Laureate nominations or applications.
COA invites nominated poets to submit an application for consideration. We’ll ask you to:
- Complete an Honorary Position Selection e-form
- Complete a State Poet Laureate Application e-form
- Upload a 1 or 2-page resume
Please note that you may save, exit, and edit your e-form answers until you submit them. You cannot, however, change your answers after submitting a form.
Honorary Position Selection e-form
This form will ask you to provide your basic contact information and information about your representatives. You can use Find Your Legislators to get information for your:
- State Representative (name and district #)
- State Senator (name and district #)
- US Congressperson (name and district #)
- US Senator (name)
State Poet Laureate Application e-form
We recommend you prepare for this form by writing your answers offline so you can copy and paste them into the form. Be ready to:
- Provide a link to your website (if available)
- Provide links to professional web sites, including social media, where your work can be found online (if available)
- List four readings/engagements where you have performed/presented original poetry in the last two years (virtual and/or in-person). Note each venue, the approximate number of people who attended, and their overall demographics. You may also provide links if available.
- Summarize your experience at these readings and engagements. (150-word limit)
- Describe what you hope to achieve with your readings and engagements as Poet Laureate. Consider how your aspirations align with COA's READI values. (250 word limit)
- Describe why you would like to serve as Poet Laureate why now is the right time for you. (250 word limit)
- Describe what would you like to accomplish during your three year term as Poet Laureate. (250 word limit)
- Upload samples of your work as a pdf (if possible). Your document can be up to 20 pages long, but no longer.
- Summarize your work sample and why you chose it for this application. (200 word limit)
COA partners with Designated Regional Service Organizations (DRSOs). They play a key role in supporting CT's creative economy, the regional arts and cultural infrastructure, and COA’s goals, programs, and services. Please select your region (or regions, if your town is shared by more than one). A complete list of towns represented by each region is available on the COA website.
- Arts & Culture Collaborative, Waterbury Region
- Arts Council of Greater New Haven
- Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County
- Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut
- Cultural Coalition - Northwest Region
- Cultural Coalition - Southeast Region
- Greater Hartford Arts Council
- Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
- Shoreline Arts Alliance
Please share your self-identification. Check all that apply.
- Black / African / African American
- Afro Latino/a/x
- Caribbean
- Chicano/a/x
- Mexican
- Central American
- South American
- Middle Eastern / North African
- Southeast Asian / Asian
- Pacific Islander / Native Hawaiian
- Native Alaskan
- American Indian
- White / Caucasian (origins in Europe, Middle East, or North Africa)
- Other, please specify
- I prefer not to answer
Resume
We’ll also ask you to upload a 1 or 2-page resume. Your resume should include career accomplishments as a poet such as awards and recognition, published work, readings and/or performances, education and training, etc.