In partnership, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the Seattle Public Library supports an experienced poet with a two-year City residency as literary ambassador. In addition to annual City events, the Civic Poet will foster community dialogue and engagement between the City, the public and other artists, while celebrating the literary arts.

This call is open to Seattle-based poets who have an established body of work including published works, reading/spoken word and project planning experience with skills in racial equity practices. Applicants must be eligible to work in the US and show commitment to this commission purpose and a strong relationship to Seattle.

The compensation for the two-year Civic Poet commission is $10,000. Funding is allocated at $5,000 per year. It compensates time for writing, administration, performances, event costs, materials, travel, fees, taxes and other project-related costs.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 24, 2019; 10:59 p.m. PST. A workshop to learn how to make your strongest application will be offered on Saturday, February 16.

More details, including how to RSVP to the workshop, are on the open calls page on our website. Learn more about the Seattle Civic Poet program as well as our current Civic Poet, Anastacia-Renee Tolbert.