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Poets May Now Apply for Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Post

​Selected Poet to Serve from January 2018 through December 2019

 

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SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.—Today, the County of Santa Clara in partnership with Silicon Valley Creates announced the opening of the application process for selecting the 2016-2017 Santa Clara County Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate is an honorary post.  The selected poet’s role is to elevate poetry in the awareness of Santa Clara County residents and to help celebrate the literary arts. The application deadline is September 30, 2015, 5:00 p.m.

The honorary post of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate was created by the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on November 18, 2008. The County works in partnership with Silicon Valley Creates, to identify a nominee to fill the two-year post, following appointment by the Board of Supervisors.

“The County has been fortunate to have three stellar poets serve as Poet Laureate since the program began,” said Supervisor Dave Cortese, President of the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. “Each has engaged the public and made unique contributions towards creating a poetic identity for Santa Clara County that showcases the spirit and diversity of our residents.”

The three Poets Laureate have served to date, Nils Peterson (2009-2011), Sally Ashton (2011-2013) and presently David Perez (2014-2015). During his tenure, among several projects, Peterson created a 100-line poem called “A Family Album, Santa Clara County, 2009.”  Ashton led several projects as well and notably created “Poetry on the Move” that put poetry on VTA railcars and buses. Perez has focused on youth arts education and outreach teaching a poetry workshop series at elementary, middle and high schools.  He also has introduced poetry to the public via a Poetry Booth at high profile public events where personalized poems are created for attendees. 

 

Eligibility Criteria for the Santa Clara County Poet Laureate

  • The Poet Laureate will be available to serve a two-year term.
  • The individual will be a current Santa Clara County resident who has resided in the County for the past three years and has been published or recognized for poetry and literary contributions.
  • The individual’s poetic interests respond to, or represent, the diversity of arts and cultures in Santa Clara County.
  • The individual has demonstrated a commitment to and passion for poetry and embraces the opportunity to engage in civic discourse.

The Poet Laureate will not be considered an employee of Santa Clara County and will continue to have individual pursuits.

 

Duties of Santa Clara County Poet Laureate

  • Represent Santa Clara County and the art of poetry through outreach related to poetry
  • Present appropriate works at a minimum of four selected County-sponsored events, dedications, or memorials per year
  • Act as a resource for poetry and literary activities of the Santa Clara County Library
  • Lead and participate in National Poetry Month events and activities
  • Undertake projects throughout the County of Santa Clara that will make poetry more available and accessible to people in their everyday lives

 

The Poet Laureate will receive a modest honorarium.

The selection process will be administered by Silicon Valley Creates. Applications will be peer-reviewed by established poets by October 2015.  Interviews with finalists will be conducted and completed in November 2015. The recommended Poet Laureate will be announced at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors in December 2015.

Application guidelines are available at www.sccgov.org/poetlaureate. For more information, please contact Silicon Valley Creates at [email protected] or 408-998-2787 ext 204. Applications should be submitted by email to [email protected].  Paper submissions can be sent to: Santa Clara County Poet Laureate, Silicon Valley Creates, 38 W. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113. 

 

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Media Contact: Gwendolyn Mitchell/Anne Chang, Office of Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119; Audrey Struve, Silicon Valley Creates, (408) 998-2787 x204