Who can be a State Poet Laureate?
A State Poet Laureate must be nominated prior to the nomination deadline and must be:
- A full-time Connecticut resident for at least two years prior to application deadline
- Recognized by peers and audiences as an accomplished poet with a body of original work
- Professionally active and available to travel throughout Connecticut and present poetry in a variety of educational and community settings
Ineligible nominees:
- Students currently enrolled in degree-granting institutions
- Previous Connecticut State Poet Laureates
- COA Arts Council and COA staff members and their immediate families
What is the schedule for nominating the next Poet Laureate?
Here are key dates for the 2025 selection process. All dates are subject to change.
Nomination Deadline: March 15, 2025
Application Deadline: on or before 11:59pm on April 16, 2025
Applicant Notification: end of May, 2025
Public Announcement: June 2025
Poet Laureate Term: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2028
Return to Poet Laureate Overview page