Common Questions

Best Practices for Town-PL Relationship
Boilerplate Announcement for PL Applicants
Why communities should appoint a poet laureate?
What Does a Poet Laureate Do?
Recommendations For Picking A Poet Laureate

Best Practices for Town-PL Relationship


BEST PRACTICES: TOWN/POET LAUREATE RELATIONSHIP

How can a Town and its Poet Laureate (PL) build a mutually beneficial relationship? It is one thing to establish a post, and another thing to support the person filling it. A Letter of Agreement setting down expectations and priorities is a solid first step in cooperating. It is not a standard employee contract. Here are some suggestions for towns and potential laureates to consider incorporating into your Letter of Agreement.

FOR A TOWN

Whether you’re a Library Director, Town Official, Arts Council Chair, or a member of a Nominating/Search Committee, decide upon a list of activities that appeal to you, especially if your town has an achievement or upcoming milestone to celebrate. This list can help you advertise the new PL post, interview candidates, or help improve the current PL relationship. Discuss these ideas with candidates or with your current PL. Be open to ideas the poet proposes.

Whether you offer an honorarium or not, the position does come with operational expenses. Issues other than activities to discuss and decide upon include:
1. Spaces (indoor and outdoor) where poetry events can be held (rental fees and event insurance waived), e.g. parks, library, museums, historical society, etc.
2. A “go-to” entity or “partner” that can best collaborate with the PL, providing access to office amenities such as photocopy machines to promote and prepare for events, A/V services and/or equipment to record events, set-up help for events, refreshments (very important!), research materials if needed, etc. Libraries are natural partners in literary arts and community outreach with many of these resources already in place.
3. An inaugural event to introduce the PL to residents, officials, and especially town employees, e.g. teachers, park employees, who may be asked to cooperate with the PL.
4. A budget for programming and special projects ranging from having a military veteran poet in the state leading a writing workshop for veterans to a book of poems about the town written by schoolchildren or seniors. Other expenses may be refreshments and paper goods for events.
5. Media exposure on town websites, social media, direct (e)mails, flyers.
6. Hourly payment for an ongoing service, e.g. weekly or monthly writing workshops in schools. For help in understanding how valuable volunteer hours are, please consult https://independentsector.org/resource/value-of-volunteer-time/. You don’t want your poet laureate burned out. A PL is not a replacement for a paid employee or consultant.
7. A small commission for an “occasional” poem, e.g. retirement of longtime Fire Chief, elegy for a beloved teacher.

FOR A POET (Current or aspiring PL)
A Poet Laureate is much more than a title; it is a person who will infuse a town with the energy and emotion of poetic expression. PLs organize and lead events to write, teach, and perform poetry. In doing so, they inspire others to write. These steps will help you succeed and grow as a community partner.

1. Remain and insist upon remaining non-partisan in Town projects.
2. Prepare a list of activities to implement in the Town, i.e. writing workshops with various populations or for seasonal holidays, publications, etc.
3. Decide on a limited number of programs or events. (10/year? 1/month?) Estimate how many hours each of the activities takes.
4. Develop a budget, consulting on going rates of visiting poets, printing costs, etc.
5. Keep a report (quarterly, semi-yearly?) of your volunteer hours and dollar value. (see: https://independentsector.org/resource/value-of-volunteer-time/) for the latest dollar values. They go up!
6. Suggest at least a two-year term, as planning special events takes time. Terms may be renewed or ended.
7. If activities exceed Agreement, discuss issues with your Town liaison/partner to cut back or modify Agreement. Share your report of hours spent.
8. Prepare event promotional materials—at least the text and pictures if you have no design background.
9. Follow-through promotion by helping to distribute flyers, post on local, regional, and state social media (e.g. ct-lit), and maintain contact with town liaisons and their communication venues.
10. Join the Ct Council of Poets Laureate for professional development opportunities, resources, advice, and support.
11. Be available to assist in recommending future PLs. Be prepared to remain neutral if you’re friendly with more than one candidate.
12. If there is no commission for “occasional poems,” retain copyright of all poems written for town occasions, people, history, etc. Each will count as an “activity.”
13. Specify that you can sell your own books at events. (Though when having a guest poet for a reading or workshop, it’s good form not to sell your own, i.e. compete for sales with guest.)



Boilerplate Announcement for PL Applicants


POET LAUREATE SOUGHT FOR (TOWN)

(Town) has created a new post of Poet Laureate, and is seeking applications for the position. Requirements include a love and knowledge of poetry, experience writing poetry, and a willingness to teach poetry writing workshops and organize poetry readings. The applicant should be a resident and have good communication skills in order to work together with library staff and town leaders. The (two-year) post is voluntary, but a stipend and budget will be provided.

Applicants should submit a letter expressing their interest, a resume showing their experience with poetry, three samples of their poetry, and a brief proposal of programming ideas. Please email it to the attention of (Town or library staff member) at (email address); or send by mail to (Town or library staff member) at (address) by (deadline).

For more information about what a Town Poet Laureate does, please visit https://ctpoetlaureates.com.


Why communities should appoint a poet laureate?


The arts are essential to the health and vivacity of every community. Poetry, an ancient art which maintains its vitality today, is something people turn to for solace, enlightenment, and delight. A poet laureate can serve as an ambassador representing a locality in the greater arts community.

A poet laureate is a person who is recognized for his or her long-standing involvement in poetry. This person demonstrates passion and expertise in the field, and works to promote poetry in the general culture. We have a state poet laureate, but urge the cities, towns, and regions of Connecticut to also consider appointing their own poets laureate. In order to appoint a poet laureate, a committee that might include a mayor, members of a town council, or members of a local arts council should identify one or more persons who demonstrate a serious commitment to poetry, and then make an appointment.

Our coalition, The Connecticut Coalition of Poets Laureate (CCPL) can provide advice or assistance in this process.

What Does a Poet Laureate Do?


A poet laureate engages in activities that promote the public enjoyment of poetry. Here are just some examples:

- participate in the activities of CCPL
- organize and / or participate in poetry readings open to the public
- read a poem at a town event
- write or find poems about the community, historical events, figures, etc.
- visit schools and work with students
- present poetry workshops
- review library collections of poetry and suggest updates, especially of CT and under-represented diverse voices
- collaborate with local artists, musicians, dance groups for unique multi-media events
- facilitate the publication of an anthology of poetry by community members
- participate in or help organize ekphrastic poetry events (art & poetry)
- manage a poetry showcase in a public area such as the town hall or library
- work with the local library to create a poetry corner or collection of poetry books by CT authors
- create or facilitate the creation of a poetry bench
- create or facilitate the creation poetry posts in the public parks
- be available for poetry consultations and/or outreach with community groups
- work with other poetry associations such as CPS and the Sunken Garden

Recommendations For Picking A Poet Laureate


Looking at what some towns have done, we can make these suggestions: The poet laureate can be appointed by the mayor, the town council, the arts commission, or the library board.

Requirements might include some of the following: age 18 or older, resident of the community, desire to engage with the community in ways that promote poetry, evidence of knowledgeable engagement with poetry through the years Some towns require an application. That could include a resume, a cover letter, and samples of the applicant's poetry. Laureates are appointed anywhere from two years to a lifetime appointment. Three years is common.

Opportunities: reception held in his or her honor soon after appointment, represent the town as part of the CCPL Duties: Engage the community in the appreciation of poetry through various activities such as public readings or special projects.

CCPL is a group of state and local poets laureate in Connecticut.
The mission of the Connecticut Council of Poets Laureate (CCPL) is to promote the enjoyment of poetry and be a resource for communities.