Poet Laureate

The City of Edmonton, Edmonton Public Library and the Edmonton Arts Council have put out the call for Edmonton’s fifth Poet Laureate, who will serve a two-year term beginning July 1, 2013.

Edmonton’s Poet Laureate reflects the life of the city through readings of poetry, and, as an ambassador for the literary arts, the Laureate incorporates poetry into a range of official and informal city activities.

“The Poet Laureate program has simply become part of our identity as a city that celebrates arts and culture and is open and inviting to the creative process,” said Mayor Stephen Mandel. “Our Poets Laureate have brought diverse backgrounds and interests to the program but have all represented the same passion for Edmonton, our people, our history, and our future. The alumni have certainly set high standards for their successors, but we are truly privileged to have a wealth of extraordinary poets to take on the Poet Laureate role and make it their own.”

As the City’s current, and fourth Poet Laureate, Anna Marie Sewell has served from 2011, and will continue until her term concludes June 30, 2013. Though a poet at heart, she also enjoys bringing music, theatre and visual art into her artistic practice. Anna Marie most recently participated in the Edmonton Poetry Festival, where she directed performers in assembling and staging the words of Canada’s poets laureate to draw a map of Canada that stretched from Victoria to Halifax.

“Once again, we have been fortunate to have a talented and committed Laureate in Anna Marie Sewell,” added Mayor Mandel. “In her role, she has brought a profound ability to blend wisdom and playfulness into poetry that is both beautiful and accessible. I am proud of the way Anna Marie has been a great ambassador from Edmonton to the world.”

The deadline for nominations for the next Poet Laureate is 4:30pm, Wednesday May 29, 2013. Nomination forms are available from the Edmonton Arts Council.

For more information:

Carol Hurst