Queens Is Looking For Its Next Poet Laureate

QUEENS, NY — Wordsmiths, take note: Queens is looking for the borough's next poet laureate.

Queens residents can apply starting April 29 to become the borough's poet laureate, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz announced Tuesday. The prestigious (but unpaid) position is open to published poets who have lived in Queens for at least the past two years.

"As the most diverse county in America, Queens seeks a Poet Laureate whose work strikes a universal chord," Katz said. "The Poet Laureate will also demonstrate an abiding affection for Queens and an ability to convey that affection through inspiring, thought-provoking poetry."

The Queens poet laureate promotes an appreciation for poetry with outreach events like readings at public schools or community centers throughout the borough. Each poet laureate serves a three-year term.

The judges selecting the winning applicant are outgoing Queens Poet Laureate Maria Lisella (2015-2018), former Queens Poet Laureate Paolo Javier (2010-2014), Walt Whitman Award-winning poet Nicole Cooley, NYC Youth Poet Laureate Camryn Bruno and Alice Quinn, executive director of the Poetry Society of America and an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of the Arts.

Other past Queens Poet Laureates include: Julio Marzan (2007-2010), Ishle Yi Park (2004-2007), Hal Sirowitz (2001-2004) and Stephen Stepanchev (1997-2001).

"Our hope is that the Queens Poet Laureate will be able to share the beauty and impact of Queens’ diversity of cultures, languages, and people, and that what they write and express will resound among Queens residents as well as with readers across the entire globe," Queens College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said.

Applicants should submit a writing sample of up to ten pages of their poetry, an essay of up to 500 words on why the applicant wants to be the next Queens Poet Laureate, and a one to two-page résumé focused on their poetry-related work.

The Queens Poet Laureate position will accept applications at www.queensbp.org/poet from April 29 until 5:00 p.m. on May 31.