Call for submissions: 2025 Poet Laureate

Guidelines

• |

• 

  Role and responsibilities

  The Vancouver poet laureate is a literary and cultural ambassador, engaging with our community.

  Duties include:

  • Creating meaningful opportunities to connect with Vancouver’s diverse communities, including creating a unique literary project
  • Presenting (in person or online) their own work or other notable works at:
    • Civic events like the annual Vancouver Book Awards
    • City Council meetings
    • Official functions
    • Cultural events
  • Participating in the City's literary and cultural activities
  • Composing literary work that is reflective of Vancouver’s diversity, landscape, cityscape, and civic identity
  • Producing new original works during their term that may reflect or represent ideas and issues of importance to the diverse communities of Vancouver
  • Providing regular updates to City of Vancouver Arts, Culture, and Tourism staff on laureate activities and public appearances (past and upcoming)
  • Updating the poet laureate blog with events and resources
  • Providing an annual report and end of term written report to City of Vancouver Arts, Culture, and Tourism staff
• 

  Term and payment

  The poet laureate will start in January 2025, serving a term of 2 or 3 years.

  The stipend is $7,500 per year. Additional project funds of $2,500 per year are available to support laureate activities.

• 

  Ownership of ideas and creations

  The poet laureate will keep ownership of all writing, notes, and original materials produced during their time in the role. 

• 

  Eligibility criteria

  • Lives in Vancouver or on the traditional homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), or səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-waututh) Nations
  • Is a published or performance poet who is active in their field 
  • Has received peer recognition for outstanding work
  • Has been recognized for their contributions to poetry and literature in Vancouver
  • Has a history of engaging with Vancouver’s diverse cultural communities through their work
• 

  Selection criteria

  • The candidate has significantly contributed to poetry and the literary community in Vancouver
  • The candidate has influenced other local writers and poets
  • The quality of the candidate’s poetic work
  • The poetry project(s) being proposed are evaluated based on their viability and potential impact
  • The candidate’s level of community engagement
• 

  Selection process

  1. The selection committee, consisting of community members, will assess submissions based on the eligibility criteria and rank the shortlist.
  2. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an informal discussion to discuss their:
     • Unique vision and proposed project for their term as laureate
     • Plans to participate at City-led or partnered events and community public poetry functions
     • Plans to engage with Vancouver’s diverse communities
  3. Candidates may then be requested to provide:
     • Additional examples of artistic works
     • Confirmation of place of residence

  Information icon If no suitable candidates are found through this application process, the selection committee is authorized to nominate and invite eligible candidates.

  Submission support

  Questions? Email Miko Hoffman at miko.hoffman@vancouver.ca for additional clarification and guidance.