SW Houston News

The City of Houston is in the process of selecting its next poet laureate, marking the 12th year of this initiative. Since its inception, six poet laureates have been chosen to represent the city.

The Poet Laureate program aims to celebrate Houston's diverse culture through a local poet who acts as an ambassador for literary arts. The selected poet will serve a two-year term from April 2025 to April 2027, during which they will participate in events and undertake a community outreach project. The position includes an honorarium of $20,000 funded by the City's Hotel Occupancy Tax.

The current Poet Laureate, Aris Kian Brown, is working on "Space for Us: Afrofuturism and the Poetic Imagination," an exhibition using Black historical archives and community interviews to envision a future for Houston. Past projects have similarly focused on cultural expression through poetry.

Applications are open until December 11, 2024, at midnight CST. Poets, authors, writers, and spoken word artists are encouraged to apply. A selection committee composed of poets and literary experts will review submissions. Non-voting members include Necole Irvin from the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs and Justin Bogert from Houston Public Library. Finalists will be interviewed in February, with the new poet laureate announced in April during National Poetry Month.

The program is managed by the MOCA and HPL and financed through arts-dedicated funds from the Hotel Occupancy Tax.

About MOCA: The Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs guides cultural investments with policies that enhance access to arts programs and attract visitors while leveraging private investment.

About HPL: Serving one of the largest populations in the country, Houston Public Library provides comprehensive services across 44 units including libraries and technology centers.

For more information about MOCA or HPL visit their respective websites or contact them via social media or phone.