Title
Approval of the Poet Laureate for 2023 - 2025
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Arts Commission recommends appointing Kathleen Byrd as Poet Laureate for 2023-2025.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the recommendation of Kathleen Byrd as the Poet Laurate for 2023 - 2025.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the recommendation of Kathleen Byrd as the Poet Laurate for 2023 - 2025.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Commission Staff Liaison
Jim Burlingame, Chair, Arts Commission
Background and Analysis:
Every two years the City of Olympia selects a Poet Laureate to engage our entire community in the literary arts. Olympia’s Poet Laureate is less an honorary title and more about service over status. Duties include promoting poetry as an art form; expanding access to the literary arts; and encouraging poetry as a community voice that contributes to a sense of place. Olympia’s next Poet Laureate will be called specifically to utilize the power of poetry and language to contribute to thoughtful response and centering around our environment and climate change.
The selection committee met on April 24, 2023, to review applications and on May 1 for finalist interviews. The committee included:
• Andre Bouchard (of Kootenai/Ojibwe/Pend d'Oreille/Salish descent) Executive Creative Producer, Indigenous Performance Productions
• Kellie Purce Braseth, Director of Strategic Communications, City of Olympia
• Ashly McBunch, Olympia Poet Laureate 2021-2023
• Sandy Yannone, Olympia Poetry Network, Evergreen Faculty Writing Center Director, Host of Cultivating Voices LIVE Poetry
On May 11, 2023, the Arts Commission reviewed the recommendation of the selection committee, and agreed to move forward the recommendation of Kathleen Byrd to the City Council for Olympia Poet Laureate 2023-2025. The committee appreciated Ms. Byrd’s deep, rich perspective on community, with an interest in meeting people where they are at, as well as a balance of urgency and reflection in their poetry.
Ms. Byrd is a Professor of English and creative writing at South Puget Sound Community College and has brought issues of climate change into her curriculum and her poetry.
Climate Analysis:
The theme of the 2023-2025 Poet Laureate position is to utilize the power of poetry and language to contribute to thoughtful response and centering around our environment and climate change.
Equity Analysis:
Throughout her proposal, Ms. Byrd identifies ways to reach out to diverse community members, highlight the work of diverse writers on the topic of climate change and partner with organizations working on climate change and climate justice.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Poet Laureate engages the community around literary arts, a topic of interest to many community members.
Financial Impact:
Honoraria for the Poet Laureate is $1,750 per year, for a two-year appointment - from the Municipal Art Fund. An additional $750 is available for reimbursable expenses.
Options:
1. Move to approve the recommendation for the 2023-2025 Poet Laureate as recommended by the Arts Commission.
2. Do not approve the recommendation for the 2023-2025 Poet Laureate.
3. Provide an alternate direction to the Arts Commission.
Attachments:
Kathleen Byrd Application
Kathleen Byrd Reading