Title
2025-2027 Poet Laureate Recommendation
Recommended Action
Move to review the selection committee recommendation of Olympia's next Poet Laureate, and forward to City Council for approval.
Report
Issue:
To review selection committee recommendation of Olympia's next Poet Laureate and make a recommendation to City Council.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
N/A
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 take on the position of 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. Identifying a common concept to the last few project themes, 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 the concept of resilience.
On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, seven applications for the Poet Laureate position were reviewed by a five-member committee including:
* Grace Borden, Ursa Literary Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Olympia High School
* Jim Burlingame, Olympia Arts Commission
* Kathleen Byrd, Olympia Poet Laureate 2023-2025
* Carolyn Gilman, Poetry Out Loud Statewide Teacher Liaison
* Kellie Purce Braseth, Strategic Communications Director, City of Olympia
Three applicants were short-listed, and interviews were held Wednesday, June 4.
Staff and Commissioner Burlingame will share the recommendation at the Arts Commission meeting.
Climate Analysis:
In 2023, the Poet Laureate was called specifically to utilize the power of poetry and language to contribute to thoughtful response and centering around our environment and climate change. Resilience is a key component of that response.
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