Nominations are now being sought for the Silver City area’s second Poet Laureate, following Bonnie Buckley Maldonado’s tenure as the first.
The Poet Laureate Program of the Silver City/Grant County area, established in 2011 by the Steering Committee of the Southwest Festival of the Written Word, and endorsed by the Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Silver City, strives to promote a meaningful poetic presence as part of the diverse cultural fabric of our town and region.
This honorary position is awarded to a person who has established a presence in the world of poetry, has demonstrated a commitment to the literary art form, and who embraces the opportunity to engage in civil discourse.
Candidates for the post may be either self-nominated or nominated by another person, and must be over the age of 21. Candidates must be residents of Grant County and must have exhibited demonstrable ties to the community. The person selected for the post will serve a two-year term based on the calendar year.
Among the duties of the Poet Laureate will be to present an original commemorative poem at at least two public events as determined by the Southwest Festival of the Written Word and/or the Silver City Town Council, and to promote poetry in the community.
To apply, please send a 1-2 page statement describing your qualifications, including publications and teaching experience; an outline of your plans for the role and how you will make a difference in the community; and 3-5 of your poems (which may be in English and/or Spanish). The process may also involve a short interview with the Selection Committee.
All applications must be sent by April 18, 2014 to JJ Wilson at wilsonj11@wnmu.edu orjjawilson@hotmail.com or 4229 N. Swan St, Silver City, NM 88061. Please contact JJ if you would like more information.
A full description of the Silver City Poet Laureate position is available on the Southwest Festival of the Written Word's website, www.swwordfiesta.org