Title
Approval of the Poet Laureate Recommendation for 2025 - 2027
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Arts Commission recommends appointing Ocean as Poet Laureate for 2025-2027.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the appointment of Ocean as Poet Laureate for 2025-2027.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the recommendation of Ocean as the Poet Laureate for 2025-2027.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Commission Staff Liaison
Kathy Dorgan, 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 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.
On June 12, 2025, the Arts Commission reviewed the recommendation of the selection committee and agreed to move forward the recommendation of Ocean (full legal name) to the City Council for Olympia Poet Laur...
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