Arts Council Napa Valley, the Napa County Board of Supervisors and the Napa County Commission for Arts & Culture Announce a Call For Nominations for the 2010-2012 Napa County Poet Laureate Deadline: May 10, 2010
NAPA, California, April 15, 2010: Arts Council Napa Valley (ACNV) announces a call for nominations for the next Napa County Poet Laureate. Current Poet Laureate, Gary Silva, has served since 2008 and the Napa County Board of Supervisors will elect the new Poet Laureate in late May.
"Our Poet Laureate lights a fire for poetry and the arts in Napa. We have such a wonderful legacy from Poet Laureates in Napa from Dorothy Lee Hansen to Gary Silva.," says Supervisor, Brad Wagenknecht.
As an ambassador for poetry, the Napa County Poet Laureate is expected to promote citizens' awareness of poetry as well as heighten their appreciation of the art form. The Poet Laureate will strive to forge a meaningful connection between poetry and the community, undertaking projects that make poetry more available and more accessible to people in their everyday lives. During the Laureate's two-year appointment, he or she will officiate at selected public gatherings, initiate a dialogue between poets and the community, inspire others in their writing and personal expression and bring recognition to the history and tradition of poetry in Napa County.
"Language, and the ability to use it creatively and artistically, is possibly the greatest of all gifts given to mankind," says Dr. Alvin Lee Block, Arts & Culture Commissioner representing the City of Napa. "Translating dreams into words is no small task. Our Poet Laureates set a standard for the rest of us. In that capacity, Gary Silva performed magnificently for the people of this county, arranging endless sessions of poetry readings, encouraging children and adults alike to shed their timidity and read their poems aloud, without embarrassment or fear. The 'Poet Laureate' position is a great classroom for humanity and one of the truly great honors we, the public, can bestow."
The position of Napa County Poet Laureate will be filled by a writer who has contributed to Napa County's poetic community, written poetry of merit and should be comfortable with public presentation and interaction. The nominations will be reviewed by a panel with representatives from Napa Valley College, Napa County Commission for Arts & Culture, Arts Council Napa Valley, and other members of Napa County's literary community. The Laureate will serve a two-year term. The application process requires both a nominator and a nominee.
Applications and nomination guidelines are available on the ACNV website at www.artscouncilnapavalley.org. For more information about Arts Council Napa Valley or the Poet Laureate, please call (707) 257-2117, email kristina [at] artscouncilnv.org.
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