Boulder Poet Laureate Program

The program is led by the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture and advances goals of the Boulder Arts Blueprint: elevating inclusive, community-led storytelling; ensuring cultural experiences are accessible across all communities; and nurturing Boulder's distinct literary culture rooted in spoken word and contemplative tradition.

The inaugural term is one year, with the potential for a second-year extension based on performance and mutual agreement.

Boulder has long been more than a city that supports poetry - it has been a place where poetry happens in public life. For decades, writers, artists, students, seekers, activists, musicians, and neighbors of all kind have gathered here to test language against the world: in classrooms and cafés, libraries and living rooms, on stages, sidewalks, and mountain trails.

• Learn more about the history of poetry in Boulder

The Poet Laureate is expected to fulfill the following during the term:

Civic Presence & Public Programming

• Present original work and deliver free readings and workshops at 6–8 events per year, spanning City Council meetings, ribbon cuttings, major community gatherings, neighborhood venues, schools, and library branches
• Champion poetry through city communications channels and social media

Signature Community Outreach Project

• Design and execute one signature project that engages Boulder community members over the course of the term
• Submit a project proposal within 30 days of appointment for approval by the Selection Committee
• Present the completed project at a public culminating event before the end of the term

Reporting

• Provide an update to the Office of Arts and Culture at the midpoint and conclusion of the term

The Poet Laureate receives a $10,000 annual honorarium from the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture, covering time, performance fees, and programming costs. In addition, through a partnership with the Boulder Library District, the Poet Laureate will have the opportunity to serve concurrently as the Library's Writer in Residence during their first six months in the role, for an additional $6,000 stipend.

The City of Boulder welcomes nominations and applications from poets who meet the following criteria:

Required

• Current resident of Boulder, Colorado (resident in zip codes beginning with 803__)
• Active creative practice as a poet, with a body of published or publicly performed work
• Experience leading or facilitating poetry programming, workshops, or literary events for community audiences
• Ability to fulfill the civic, programming, and reporting responsibilities of the role during the term

Preferred

• Experience working with audiences that are diverse in age, language, background, or access to arts programming
• Existing relationships with Boulder-area schools, cultural organizations, neighborhood groups, or literary institutions
• Multilingual capacity or experience with multilingual communities

Commitment to Equity

The City of Boulder is committed to a selection process that reflects the full linguistic, cultural, and demographic diversity of the city. Poets from communities historically underrepresented in literary arts spaces are strongly encouraged to apply. We are equally committed to ensuring this process and all Poet Laureate programming are fully accessible — applicants or participants who require accommodations are encouraged to contact us, and requests will be met with care and without barrier.

Not Eligible

• Current employees of the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture or members of the Selection Committee

The Boulder Poet Laureate is selected through a three-step process administered by the City Poet Laureate Selection Committee, which includes a representative from the Boulder Arts Commission, a Boulder Public Library District representative, two members of Boulder's poetry and literary community (including representatives from Naropa University and the University of Colorado Boulder), and one City of Boulder staff member. Committee members evaluate candidates on the strength of their creative work, community presence and teaching experience, vision for the role, and capacity to fulfill the position's commitments, using a standardized scoring rubric developed by the Office of Arts and Culture.

1. Nomination: Members of the public, community organizations, and poets themselves may submit nominations during the open nomination period.
2. Application: Nominated poets are contacted and invited to submit a full application for the Committee to review.
3. Finalist Interviews: The Committee selects the top three finalists and conducts a formal interview with each. Following the interviews, the Committee recommends a candidate to the Mayor, who makes the formal appointment.

Nominations Open

July 8, 2026 — The nomination period opens. Members of the public and community organizations are invited to nominate poets. Self-nominations are accepted.

Nominations Close

Aug. 13, 2026 — The nomination period closes. Nominated poets are notified and invited to submit a full application.

Applications Due

Aug. 25, 2026 — Full applications are due from nominated poets.

Finalist Interviews

Late August 2026 — The Selection Committee reviews applications and conducts interviews with finalists.

Appointment

Late September 2026 — The Mayor appoints the inaugural Poet Laureate. A public announcement is made and the Laureate's biography and program page go live on the City website.

Inauguration

November 2026 — The Poet Laureate delivers their inaugural public reading and makes their first civic appearance.

Signature Project Proposal

January 2027 — The Poet Laureate submits a Signature Community Outreach Project proposal for Selection Committee approval.

Culminating Event

Summer/Fall 2027 — The Signature Community Outreach Project is presented at a public culminating event.

Nominations open July 8, 2026. To nominate a poet or to nominate yourself complete the nomination form. Nominations should include basic contact information for the poet and a brief statement about why they would be a strong Poet Laureate.

For questions about the program or nomination process, contact Cindy Sepucha in the Office of Arts and Culture at sepuchac@bouldercolorado.gov.

• Boulder Poet Laureate Nomination Form