Search Begins For Newark’s First-Ever Poet Laureate (How To Apply)

NEWARK, NJ — Newark is launching a new “poet laureate” post, and the city is seeking nominees for its first appointment.

Newark city officials released details about the new program on Tuesday, noting that the position will be responsible for promoting the literary arts, encouraging local writers and poets, creating a community dialogue and bringing attention to poetry in “less traditional settings.”

The laureate will receive an honorarium of $5,000 per year, as well as a programmatic budget of up to $10,000 per year, administered by the city’s Division of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

The chosen poet will also get the chance to work with some of the city’s largest and most popular institutions, officials said:

“During their term, the poet laureate will write and present original works at civic events and develop and contribute to poetry workshops and programming across the city. The Laureate will have the opportunity to collaborate with Dodge Poetry, a joint initiative of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center that produces a biennial poetry festival as well as poetry programs in Newark throughout the year. The laureate will also collaborate with Newark Public Schools and Newark Public Library on poetry workshops, engagement and outreach.”

A new poet laureate will be chosen every two years.

“Poetry is something Newarkers celebrate when we come together, and it’s a valuable part of our culture as a community,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“Verse and spoken word is in our blood – and I am proud that Newark is adding this poet laureate program as a heartbeat at our center,” said Baraka, the son of famed, late poet Amiri Baraka and a spoken word artist himself.

Newark Public Library Director Christian Zabriskie said the library is “thrilled” to support the effort.

“We hope that this program will bring a new generation of poetry alive in our city and will create new songs and stories for our shelves for years to come,” Zabriskie said.

“Poetry can stir our souls, engage our minds, and draw our attention to what we may not notice,” Newark Board of Education Superintendent Roger León agreed.

“Most of all, poetry can inspire the dynamically diverse people of our great city,” he added.

HOW TO APPLY

Professional poets based in Newark may apply by Monday, Feb. 3 to be considered for the 2025-26 poet laureate role.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have resided in Newark for at least two years, be active as a professional poet, display a strong commitment to local community, and be capable and enthusiastic to fulfill poet laureate duties. Applicants must have produced work that “demonstrates poetic flexibility, reflects the vibrancy and life of the city of Newark, and is significant to the citizens of Newark.”

Applicants are required to submit a professional biography and resume, statement of intent for the laureate role, work samples, proof of Newark residency and two recommendation letters.

A selection committee made up of poetry professionals, municipal staff and community stakeholders will evaluate all entries and choose top candidates based on the “excellence of their poetic work, their experience with community engagement, and their capacity to encourage public appreciation and participation in poetry.”

Final candidates will be interviewed, and the selected poet will be announced in March to serve a two-year term for calendar years 2025-26.

Interested candidates may access the guidelines and application form on Submittable at https://cityofnewark-arts.submittable.com/submit. Questions can be directed to fayemi shakur, City of Newark Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, at shakurf@ci.newark.nj.us.

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