Arts Council Napa Valley (ACNV) in partnership with the Napa County Library is now accepting applications for Napa County’s Poet Laureate, a program of the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The deadline for applications is 5:00 PM on March 13, 2023. 

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[DEADLINE UPDATE: 3/13/23 @ 5 PM.]

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As an ambassador for poetry, the Napa County Poet Laureate will promote public awareness and heighten the appreciation of all forms of poetry. The Poet Laureate will try to forge a meaningful connection with the community, undertaking projects that make poetry more available and accessible to people in their everyday lives.

“The Poet Laureate program is a special honor that has been supported by our County for over a decade. The chosen local writer-performer has the opportunity to serve our community and encourage creativity while showing the importance of the written and spoken word,” said Chris DeNatale, CEO of ACNV.

Napa County’s Poet Laureate is an honorary volunteer position appointed by the Napa County Board of Supervisors for a two-year term. The most recent Poet Laureate, Marianne Lyon, served from 2021-2023. During her time in the position, Lyon worked hard to connect poetry with other genres in the visual and performing arts while offering new and exciting opportunities for local poets to come together and create. The next Poet Laureate term will begin in May 2023.

“Poetry expresses emotion and speaks to the human condition in unique and powerful ways,” said Anthony Halstead, director of Library Services and Community Outreach. “From the exuberance of youth to the experience and wisdom that age gives us all, poetry brings people together and the Napa County Poet Laureate has the opportunity to foster that community and help it grow into one of encouragement and understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us.”

The Napa County Library and ACNV will facilitate the selection process on behalf of Napa County. The final appointment and announcement of the Poet Laureate rest solely with the Napa County Board of Supervisors.

Nomination forms and guidelines are available on Arts Council Napa Valley website, ArtsCouncilNapaValley.org.  For technical questions, contact Crysta Tim at (707) 257-2117 ext.1 or via Info@artscouncilnv.org. All other questions can be directed to Anthony Halstead at ANTHONY.HALSTEAD@countyofnapa.org.