Title
Special Recognition - Outgoing Olympia Poet Laureate Ashly McBunch
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Recognize Poet Laureate Ashly McBunch for their efforts to engage our community in the literary arts, especially for using the power of poetry to foster insight, understanding
and healing around issues of equity and inclusion in our community during their term as Poet Laureate, July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recognize outgoing Olympia Poet Laureate Ashly McBunch.
Staff Contact:
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.709.2678
Presenter(s):
Stephanie Johnson, Arts Program & Planning Supervisor
Ashly McBunch, Olympia Poet Laureate
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. Ashly was the first Poet Laureate to also have a theme to their tenure, which was was to use the power of poetry to foster insight, understanding and healing around issues of equity and inclusion.
During their term, McBunch conducted poetry workshops and readings, represented poetry and the City at Arts Walk, Love Oly, Juneteenth and Capital City Pride. They contributed poetry at public art dedications, the Armory housewarming, and most recently, Olympia's new transgender celebration crosswalks. McBunch also participated in the inclusion of poetry in City processes as part of the Reimagining Public Safety community outreach, to provide a centering art moment in the intensity of the process.
The role of Olympia's Poet Laureate is much wider than the City, as they are invited to...
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