ORLANDO, Fla. – Wanted: a person with literary prowess to become Orlando’s first poet laureate.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced Wednesday that the city is seeking to appoint a poet laureate to inspire residents and emerging literary artists.
“The selected poet will serve as a prominent fixture in the City’s cultural and literary arts communities, presenting original works of poetry at City events and youth activities,” according to the news release.
Interested applicants can apply through Aug. 7 at UnitedArts.cc/Poet-Laureate.
A selection committee made up of poets, scholars and literary experts will select the city’s new storyteller. The city, with the help of the United Arts of Central Florida and nonprofit literary publisher Burrow Press, will make a decision by October and introduce the city’s poet during the National Arts and Humanities Month.
“Orlando is a vibrant, inclusive city with many important stories to tell, and the Poet Laureate will serve as our official storyteller. Arts and culture help create our community’s unique sense of place, and the Poet Laureate appointment will further Orlando’s growth as a cultural hub,” Dyer said.
A growing number of cities and towns across the U.S. have recruited poet laureates including St. Petersburg, Key West, Houston, Los Angeles and Fresno, California, according to a 2013 report from the New York Times.
Former Key West poet laureate and author Rosalind Brackenbury told News 6 that during her two-year role she held several readings and spoke at a few events.
Brackenbury said in an email that a city’s poet laureate has the potential to increase interest in the writing art form.
“The fact that it's made official by the city commission makes a difference I think,” Brackenbury said. “Also, schools pay attention and some teachers encourage more poetry writing. We have competitions in Key West and they show quite a high level of interest. It helps that kids get money prizes!”
Programs like National Poetry Month have also inspired new interest in the literary arts, according to the Times.
St. Petersburg poet laureate Peter Meinke was named Florida’s poet laureate by Gov. Rick Scott in 2015. It was the first time since 1980 that a Florida governor named someone to that role.
"Florida's Poet Laureate promotes reading, writing and the appreciation of poetry throughout the state and encourages students to express themselves through poetry and reading out loud,” according to Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs website.
If the city beautiful needs a poem to inspire applications here is a haiku:
Poets wanted now
Orlando needs a writer
Laureates, apply!