NOMINATIONS GUIDELINES
The Prince William County Arts Council hereby announces its search for the next Prince William County Poet Laureate. Nominations are due by June 15, 2022. Self-nominations and nominations from others are accepted. Only one nomination per person is accepted.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Prince William County Poet Laureate 2022-2024 serves to promote an awareness of poetry and heighten appreciation of the art form. The selected candidate will forge a meaningful connection between poetry and the community by participating in public gatherings, initiating engaging dialogue with residents, and undertaking a project or series of projects which makes poetry more available and accessible to people in their everyday lives.
This position is to be filled by a resident of the Greater Prince William area, which includes Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park, who has contributed to the local poetry scene, written poetry of merit, and who advocates community arts collaborative efforts.
OBJECTIVES and DUTIES:
- Participate in Poet Laureate Circle activities and public readings
- Participate in PWC Arts Council events including Arts Alive and the Seefeldt Awards
- Bring recognition to the history and tradition of poetry, celebrate present contributions, and support advancement of the literary arts for the Greater Prince William area and its residents.
- Inspire and encourage others in an understanding and sharing of poetry and other personal creative expressions.
- Promote poetry and other literary endeavors through the media and collaborations with the schools, cultural organizations, and community institutions.
- Represent the Prince William County area in the wider regional creative arts community.
- Contribute to the Prince William Arts Council Web Site and its monthly Newsletter.
- Participate in the Prince William Poet Laureate Day programs, officially named by Prince William County, and celebrated on the Sunday prior to Columbus Day.
- Create and present at least one outreach or educational project that connects literacy arts with the Greater Prince William community
SELECTION PROCESS:
Nominations will undergo review by a panel of judges; these judges form the Poet Laureate Selection Panel. After the competitive nomination process, final recommendation(s) of the Poet Laureate Selection Panel are presented to The Prince William County Arts Council for position appointment beginning October 9, 2022.
POSITION TENURE AND COMPENSATION:
The filled position selected for this Laureate program will serve a two-year term. The Prince William County Poet Laureate will receive an honorarium of $500.00 per year.
ELIGIBILITY:
The candidate must have lived in the area for at least two previous years and must maintain residence in the Prince William County area during the full two-year term.
Candidates must be 21 years of age or older.
NOMINATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
- Complete the nomination form. Include the signature of the nominee and the signature of the nominator if the nominee is not self-nominated. The candidate must be at least 21 years of age.
- Provide a description of no more than one page (on 8 ½ by 11-inch paper, single spaced) detailing how the nominee would contribute as the Prince William Poet Laureate based on the position description and objectives of the program.
Examples of Ways the Nominee May Choose to Contribute:
Present one of the following:
1. A program that combines poetry with other writing genres or the visual performing arts.
2. A series of poetry workshops or school or senior center poetry programs.
3. A promotion of poetry in public places, such as transportation hubs, grocery stores, parks and public gatherings
- Include a nominee’s literary resume. List any awards, publications, teaching positions and similar achievements.
- Include the nominator’s statement of support for the candidate (not applicable if nominee is self-nominated).
- Include up to three letters of statements of support for the nominee from individuals or organizations in the Greater Prince William County community (nominator statement, if applicable serves as one form of support).
- Include poetry samples. These can be published or unpublished. All work submitted must be original. Poems can be formatted as you wish, but there should be no more than six pages of poetry, and at least three and no more than five poems. Please do not put your name on any of these pages.
Nomination submission material should be collated into one packet containing the following documents in this order (please use the Upload button below):
- A completed nomination form on top (located on the following page)
- The nominator’s statement, if the nominee is not self-nominated
- The Nominee’s literary resume
- The nominee’s one-page description of proposed activities
- Up to three additional letters or statements of support
- Your poetry samples (No name on these pages)
- For questions or to mail or e-mail the packet, please contact:
Alice K. Mergler
9132 Grant Avenue
Manassas, VA 20110
mergleralice@gmail.com
Thank you for helping us to choose the 2022-2024 Prince William County Poet Laureate.