Boston is on the hunt for a new voice to capture the essence of the city, as Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture throw open the doors for applications and nominations for the next Poet Laureate, a role established in 2008 to enrich the city's creative ambiance. According to a statement from the City of Boston's official website, this role entails not just throwing words against the canvas of Beantown’s history and culture, but also acting as a literary ambassador during civic engagements and bolstering poetry programs in public institutions.
The current laureate, Porsha Olayiwola, is set to broaden her involvement in the arts by transitioning into academia at Emerson College and by igniting a passion for reading with her new bookstore, justBook-ish. "One of the most unique and special roles in our city has opened," Mayor Wu said, expressing excitement for the creative potential awaiting the city. Throughout her tenure, Olayiwola has become a staple in the fabric of Boston's rich literary tradition. Her aspiration is to "helped to propel the city’s literary scene and push the possibilities of poetry," a dream she described with reflection at the City of Boston announcement.
Apart from poetic performances at official events and developing public programming, the chosen laureate will have the chance to shape the Mayor’s Poetry Program at City Hall, and during National Poetry Month in April, there will be anticipation in the air for creative sparks to fly. Prospective candidates need to tick a few boxes: being 21 years plus, a two-year Boston residency under their belt, and an active professional poetry profile that mirrors Boston's vibrancy.
The selection panel, a mosaic of literary savants, will dive into evaluating submissions, conducting interviews, and weighing in on which poet will fly the flag for Boston's lit scene next. A four-year term beckons the designated bard starting July 1, 2025, with the curtains falling on June 31, 2029. The new Poet Laureate’s coronation is set to be a January 2025 highlight, the city announced with a flourish. Interested poets can gather insights and details at two upcoming information sessions on September 6 and 12, 2024, before pencils must be down on the application process by September 30, 2024.
Boston's cultural vibrancy is poised for an artistic recharge as a new Poet Laureate prepares to step into Olayiwola's shoes. This new poet will capture the city's heartbeat through verses, echoing a storied past while inspiring future voices. With pen and perspective ready, Boston's call for poets is not just a search but a summons to embrace a new chapter in its celebrated literary tradition.
