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City Launches Poet Laureate Program

City of Highland Park Launches Poet Laureate Program

October 26, 2022 –The City of Highland Park is pleased to announce the launch of a new Highland Park Poet Laureate Program (Program).  The Program will recognize a deserving resident member of Highland Park’s literary community as the City’s Poet Laureate, an honorary position that includes a $1,000 annual honorarium. The primary role of the Poet Laureate is to promote the literary arts in Highland Park through a variety of activities such as poetry readings and public workshops, as well as assisting with the development of a future Student Poet Laureate program and subsequent mentorship of an aspiring high school-age Highland Park writer.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and residents of Highland Park with a demonstrated commitment to promoting the literary arts. The deadline for receipt of completed nomination materials, which includes a required application form available at cityhpil.com/poetlaureate, is December 7, 2022.

Nominations will be reviewed by a five-member jury consisting of recognized experts in the field of poetry and two representatives of the City’s Cultural Arts Advisory Group, each of whom is connected to the literary arts in Highland Park and beyond. The jury will review all applications in a de-identified review process and recommend a group of finalists for the consideration of the Cultural Arts Advisory Group, which will then provide a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council.

Further details regarding the Program are available at cityhpil.com/poetlaureate. Questions regarding the Program should be directed to Amanda Civitello, Communications Manager, at acivitello@cityhpil.com. Prospective applicants should not contact any members of the Cultural Arts Advisory Group or members of the jury, so as to respect the integrity of the anonymous review process.