Poet Laureate

Danbury Poet Laureate Selection

The Mayor shall appoint a Poet Laureate for Danbury (selected by the Danbury Cultural Commission Poet Laureate Selection Committee) to promote an appreciation for poetry for the “solace, enjoyment and delight” of residents of Danbury, Connecticut. The Poet Laureate will not be considered an employee of Danbury and there may be a small stipend.

Criteria:

“A Poet Laureate is a person who is recognized for his or her long-standing involvement in poetry. This person demonstrates passion and expertise in the field and works to promote poetry in the general culture.” (from the Connecticut Coalition of Poets Laureate)

“They should advocate for the art of poetry in classrooms and boardrooms across the city, and inspire an emerging generation of literary artists.” (from the California Arts Council)

A successful candidate will:

●                     Be 18 years old or older
●                     Have a strong desire to actively engage people of all ages in the community through poetry
●                     Be a resident of Danbury for at least 3 years prior to appointment, or have at least 3 years connections to Danbury through employment, family or community involvement, and live in Greater Danbury during entire term
●                     Serve for a Three-year term with possibility of extension
●                     Be experienced in the field of poetry and able to fulfill the required duties of the position Duties:

○                     Organize and/or take part in poetry readings/workshops open to the public
○                     Foster public appreciation and participation in poetry and literary arts activities in Danbury

●                     Fulfill one special project during the 3-year tenure
●                     Be part of the CT Coalition of Poets Laureate as Danbury’s official representative
●                     Assist in the selection of, and mentor to, a Young People’s Poet Laureate
●                     Participate in the Annual Literary Contest
●     Understand this (unpaid) position will also serve to promote ideas of compassion and inclusion

Danbury Poet Laureate Selection Panel

A seven-member, Danbury Poet Laureate Selection Committee shall convene every three years, or as needed, and will include members of the Danbury Cultural Commission, the current Poet Laureate, and potentially Danbury Library staff, poetry advocates, representatives from the school and senior communities, WCSU, or others. The Danbury Cultural Commission Coordinator will help coordinate the application process and publicity and any outreach activities with the Poet Laureate.

Application Process

Applications for the Danbury Poet Laureate 3 year term that will run from April, 2027 through March, 2030 will be accepted from October 15, 2026 through December 15, 2026.

Online submissions are strongly encouraged and preferred. Please send your application, by email, hand-delivered, or by mail for the attention of the Danbury Cultural Commission at Coordinator@DanburyArts.com, Gregory Wencek, Danbury Cultural Commission, 256 Main Street, Danbury, Conn. 06810 no later than December 18, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. Eastern time.

Application should include:

●                     A cover letter that includes a little about yourself and your connection with poetry. This should also include a statement about what you would like to achieve during your tenure, especially any special project that you would like to undertake during that time.
●                     A poetry related resume or CV
●                     A selection of 8 to 10 poems that you think best demonstrate the style and range of your poetry
●     Links to any online content that you would like us to consider

Selection Process

Once the applications have been received the Danbury Cultural Commission Committee will review the applications, gather any additional material needed, and make its decision based on the poet’s ability to fulfill the requirements of the position and to actively engage the Danbury community in and around poetry.

The recommendation of the Committee will be sent via the Danbury Cultural Commission to the Mayor in early February, 2027. The Danbury Poet Laureate will be officially announced in April as part of National Poetry Month and presented at the Literary Awards ceremony.

Conditions:

●                     All poems created while discharging the official role of Poet Laureate will be collected and made publicly available by the Danbury Cultural Commission.
●                     The Poet Laureate will submit a report of official activities no less than twice yearly to the Cultural Commission.
●     The City of Danbury Cultural Commission reserves the right to revoke the tenure of the Poet Laureate if he/she fails to fulfill his/her duties.

Greater Danbury is Danbury, Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman, plus Patterson, Southeast, and North Salem, in New York state.