Indiana Arts Commission Looking For State's Next Poet Laureate

INDIANAPOLIS  – The Indiana Arts Commission is accepting nominations for Indiana State Poet Laureate.

The Indiana Poet Laureate represents the State of Indiana and the art of poetry through the development and implementation of programming to the education community and general public. The Poet Laureate makes formal presentations at various educational facilities and events, pursues individual initiatives to advance the knowledge and appreciation of poetry throughout the state, and offers advice to the Commission regarding ways to further the art of poetry in Indiana.

“We have a remarkable poetry community in Indiana,” said current State Poet Laureate George Kalamaras. “Poetry is easily one of the oldest, most sacred arts – rooted in words, in breath. We need poetry just as we need the air we breathe. I applaud Indiana for recognizing this by offering the position of Poet Laureate, an ambassador for poetry throughout our state.”

Nominations for Indiana Poet Laureate should be limited to one, single-page cover letter and a resume or CV detailing the nominee’s qualifications and accomplishments. No additional materials should be included with the initial nomination. Successful nominees must be current residents of Indiana and remain residents during their two-year term of service as State Poet Laureate. Nominees should be published poets, with experience in educational program development.

Nominations must be submitted to the Indiana Arts Commission by email only, and must be received by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 1. Nominations should be sent to Sarah Fronczek: sfronczek@iac.in.gov.

All nominations will be reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from Indiana’s major institutions of higher education. The committee will be convened this fall to begin review of the nominations.

Increasing the awareness of poetry and the power of the written and spoken work was the inspiration behind legislation signed into law in 2005 creating the State Poet Laureate program. The legislation provides for the development of specific educational programming coordinated between the Indiana Arts Commission, the Indiana Department of Education, and the State Poet Laureate.

Joyce Brinkman was the first State Poet Laureate selected to lead the program. Norbert Krapf, and Karen Kovacik preceded Kalamaras as State Poets Laureate.