The Stratford Poet Laureate Program aims to celebrate and elevate the literary arts through written and spoken word.
The program will collect, save, and share unique stories from Stratford and the surrounding area. These stories reflect our community’s character, both now and for years to come.
The poet laureate writes poetry about the area, composes poems for special events, participates in public performances, works with local poets and writers, and acts as a literary ambassador for the city and the region. The work of the poet laureate culminates with the creation of a legacy project which is a unique and lasting contribution to the community.
This initial Stratford Poet Laureate program is a three-year pilot project (January 2025 to December 2027) by Destination Stratford and Stratford Public Library, and is formally recognized by City of Stratford Council via the Community Services department.
Applications are now open for the Stratford Poet Laureate and Youth Poet Laureate positions and will be received until January 10, 2025.
The Poet Laureate is a resident poet, storyteller or spoken word artist over the age of 25 who has achieved excellence amongst their peers and whose body of work demonstrates connection with and relevance to residents of the municipality. As an advocate for poetry, language and the arts, the Poet Laureate attends events across the municipality to promote and attract people to the literary world, and as an ambassador for Stratford and its residents.
The duties of the Poet Laureate include:
- Serve as an ambassador for poetry, literature, literacy, and the literary arts.
- Create artistic work that reflects Stratford and area’s people, places, sites, identity, and/or the life of the area.
- Produce at least three original works for specific events or occasions identified by the organizing committee each year.
- Make public presentations of their work at least three times a year.
- Work with the Stratford Public Library on at least one literary program or event per year (e.g., Writers in Residence, Perth County Reads, Poetry Month, school programs, etc.). To be determined each year.
- Participate in the literary life of the area to raise the visibility of literacy, poetry, and spoken word.
- Mentor the Youth Poet Laureate as part of their shared term length.
Term: 3 years January 2025 to December 2027
Honorarium: The Poet Laureate will receive $2,500 per year as an honorarium, payable in four equal quarterly installments of $625 each. Additional funding for literary initiatives is at the discretion of the organizing committee.
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The Youth Poet Laureate is a resident poet, storyteller or spoken word artist between the ages of 14-24 who has an interest in bringing their work to a wider audience. The role of the Youth Poet Laureate is to serve as a literary ambassador for youth in Stratford and area. Through their tenure in this position, the Youth poet Laureate will seek to inspire and engage local youth to share their stories through written and spoken word.
The duties of the Youth Poet Laureate include:
- Serve as an ambassador for youth, poetry, literature, literacy, and the literary arts.
- Create artistic work that reflects Stratford and area’s young people, places, sites, identity, and/or the life of the area’s youth.
- Produce at least two original works for specific events or occasions identified by the organizing committee each year.
- Make public presentations of their work at least two times a year.
- Work with the Stratford Public Library on at least one community youth literary program or event per year.
- Participate in the literary life of the area to raise the visibility of youth, literacy, poetry, and spoken word.
- Be mentored by the Poet Laureate during their shared term length.
Term: The Youth Poet Laureate will serve in the position for a period of one year.
Honorarium: The Youth Poet Laureate will receive $1,000 per year as an honorarium, payable in two equal biannual installments of $500 each. Additional funding for literary initiatives is at the discretion of the organizing committee.
APPLY NOW
For more information contact poetry@splibrary.ca.
