Medford Seeks First Poet Laureate

MEDFORD, MA — Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and the Medford Arts Council announced the creation of the city's first poet laureate position this week. The selected candidate will serve a two-year term and receive a $2,000 honorarium each year.

At its regular meeting Jan. 21, the Arts Council voted unanimously to provide funding for the honorarium.

The poet laureate will highlight poets, poetry and literature, particularly among community members who may traditionally have less access to poetry. Working with the city administration and the Medford Arts Council, the poet laureate will strive to increase access to senior citizens, youth, and non-English speakers across various platforms.

"I am excited for the role this position, and the person who ultimately fills the role, will play in the Medford community," Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. "Though this idea has been in the works for a few weeks, our announcement happens to come just after the amazing poetry of Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman has been presented on the national stage and sparked a renewed interest in poetry and poet laureates. It is my hope that we can continue to inspire and engage residents of all ages through our own poet laureate."

Applicants must be Medford residents, or present strong evidence of positive contributions to the Medford community. Applicants of all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit:

1. A letter of intent including your proposals for expanding access to poetry within the City of Medford
2. A resume
3. Examples of original poetry
4. Proof of residency or evidence of contributions to the City of Medford, including letters of recommendation

All materials should be submitted to Jackie Piques at jpiques@medford-ma.gov, or by mail to Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155 by Friday, February 19, 2021 at noon.

"The humanities have the power to help us process human emotion, inspire creativity, and cultivate a shared experience across boundaries," said Danielle Moriarty, co-chair of the Medford Arts Council. "The position of a Poet Laureate in Medford will hopefully act as a bridge to help us understand each other's ideas, cultures, and perspectives. It's exciting to see the possibilities that can exist for our community by centralizing creativity in our City."

Selection Criteria + Evaluation Process

A selection committee that includes the Mayor, City staff, and representatives from the Medford Arts Council will review applications and select a finalist for the Poet Laureate position.

The Poet Laureate will be reviewed and chosen based on the following criteria:

• Quality of original poetry;
• A proposed plan for working with the community (i.e. youth, seniors, non-English speakers);
• Professional achievement in poetry and/or proof of publication of past work;
• Past work or volunteerism within the Medford community.

For more information, contact Jackie Piques at 781-393-2529 or jpiques@medford-ma.gov.