The city of Sedona in collaboration with the Community Library Sedona seek poet applicants for Sedona’s first Inaugural Poet Laureate Program. One senior and one junior poet will serve as ambassadors for a two-year term to elevate education in literature by promoting an appreciation of poetry in the community, and to inspire an emerging generation of literary artists and readers within our local schools. 

 This announcement reflects City Council’s desire to continue to support and expand arts and culture programming within the city.  

 Both poet laureates are expected to perform the following duties throughout their appointment: 

• Give up to four public readings per year. 

• Compose poems for community events and ceremonial occasions as requested. 

• Provide poetry workshops to area schools.  

• Pursue a major literary project with an emphasis on outreach and education, in addition to community outreach projects as requested. 

• Collaborate with other poet laureate programs in Arizona. 

The Senior Poet Laureate will receive a stipend of $2,000 for their two-year term and the Junior Poet Laureate will receive a scholarship to further their education. Both poets will receive per-diem costs for school outreach and workshops. 

The selection process 

The process will begin with a work group consisting of several local literary colleagues, including the city of Sedona Arts and Culture Specialist and the Executive Director of the Community Library Sedona, reviewing all applications and selecting up to five finalists. Then, these finalists will perform and be scored at four different consecutive events, including the Moment of Art at the City Council meeting on April 8, 2025; Mary Fisher Theater on April 12; the Community Library Sedona April 16; and Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in late April. The two highest ranking applicants will be notified and appointed by the City Council at an upcoming City Council meeting in May.  

Eligibility 

To be eligible for this appointment, all applicants will undergo a background check and must: 

• Reside within the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District Nine boundaries for at least one year from the application date and must reside there for at least six months of the year. If applicants for the Senior Poet Laureate live outside the boundaries, they should demonstrate a strong connection to Sedona.

  Click to view Boundaries Map

• Be a poet in the literary arts in the community or beyond. 

• Be willing to make presentations throughout the Sedona area. 

The Junior Poet Laureate must meet the above requirements, as well as be a current student or recent graduate from a Sedona or Verde Valley schools, be between 16 and 20 years of age and willing to work closely with the Senior Poet Laureate. 

How to apply 

The deadline for nominations is March 19, 2025 by 5 p.m. To apply, send the following materials: 

• Cover letter with name, address, phone, email and publication history. 

• Statement describing why the nominee should be considered, why this appointment is important to the nominee, the nominee’s connection to Sedona and a brief proposal of planned initiatives and events designed to promote poetry within the community. 

• Writing samples of the nominee’s work published or unpublished, not to exceed 10 pages. 

• Nominee’s current resume or curriculum vitae.  

Please mail or email nomination packets to: 

Tasha Spuches, Assistant Director, Community Library Sedona 

3250 White Bear Rd. 

Sedona, AZ 86336 

tspuches@communitylibrarysedona.org     

More information 

For more information on the Poet Laureate Program, please contact city Arts and Culture Specialist Nancy Lattanzi at 928-203-5078 or NLattanzi@SedonaAZ.gov. 

FAQ’s

Q: What is the role of a Poet Laureate?

A: The number one role of a Poet Laureate is to share a love of poetry with people of all ages. A Poet Laureate is a person who is recognized for demonstrating their passion and involvement in poetry and having a strong goal to promote and elevate literary arts to all community members.

Q: Why should communities appoint a Poet Laureate?

A: The arts are essential to the health and vivacity of every community. Poetry is an ancient art with rich history that evokes emotion and empathy, as it continues to maintain its vitality today. People turn to poetry for solace, enlightenment and connection. Poetry not only enhances literacy and language skills but also provides a platform sharing diverse and powerful messages.

Q: What is the process for being chosen?

A: Up to five finalists will be chosen from the submissions entered for both Poet and Youth Poet Laureate. They will be required to perform four times in the month of April, before judges decide on the two recipients. A work group consisting of established art and literary members from our community will select up to five finalists. Judges will consist of work group members, as well as high school English teachers and City Councilor(s).

Q: What are the dates and times the finalists should be available to read?

A: Finalists will perform published or original poems on the following dates:

Tuesday, April 8 at 4:30pm at the City Council meeting Moment of Art.

Each poet should read for a maximum of two minutes for the Moment of Art.

Wednesday, April 16 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Community Library Sedona

Monday, April 21 from 7:00-9:00pm at Mary Fisher Theater

Monday, April 28 from 6:00-8:00pm at Tlaquepaque

Each poet can have up to 15 minutes to perform for the last three events.

Q: How frequently does a Poet Laureate hold events, workshops, poetry readings, etc.?

A: The Poet Laureate should plan on hosting a minimum of three events in the calendar year at the Community Library Sedona and up to four public readings a year. In addition, this person may be asked to lead workshops at Sedona schools and read for ceremonial or community events.

Q: What does the Sedona Youth Poet Laureate do?

A: The Youth Poet Laureate represents Sedona’s younger generation modeling their commitment to artistic excellence, civic engagement and social impact by elevating the literary arts. Other duties:

The Youth Poet Laureate will have the opportunity to publish poems in the National Youth Poet Laureate annual anthology, published by Penmanship Books).

Participate in regional competitions with other local Youth Poets Laureate to further develop their craft.

Perform for other city and community events as required, as well as assist Community Library Sedona’s child program by promoting National Poetry Month activities in April.