THE UPPER PENINSULA POET LAUREATE POSITION
COMING SOON: The announcement of the next U.P. Poet Laureate will be made by Friday, November 7, 2025. Check the website NEXT WEEK to find out the name of the 2026/2027 U.P. Poet Laureate!
Applications are closed at this time.
The Upper Peninsula Poet Laureate will promote poetry and the spoken word. The laureate will encourage appreciation of the art form and creative expression by a wide-range of residents of the region through public readings, workshops, virtual events, and digital platforms. The laureate will celebrate the U.P. and its cultural heritage through poems in online or print publications and champion past and present U.P. poets. The Upper Peninsula Poet Laureate serves a two-year term, which may be renewed one time.
Position Responsibilities
- Promote poetry and the Poet Laureate position via social media and traditional media outlets.
- Develop a special project, such as an event, publication, or program, which highlights poetry and the U.P.
- Give public readings and workshops to communities across the U.P., in-person or virtually.
- Attend cultural events in coordination with the regional arts and/or humanities councils.
- Provide updates twice a year to the Upper Peninsula Poet Laureate Foundation
Requirements
- The laureate should be able to provide credentials and examples to demonstrate the literary talents for the position and its projects.
- The candidates should demonstrate a record of excellence through a list of publications, writing samples, and recordings of readings or community performances.
- The poet laureate should be able to demonstrate strong public speaking skills as well as the ability to engage a variety of audiences.
- The poet laureate should reside in the Upper Peninsula and be familiar with the region.
TO APPLY:
Download and fill out the below form, “U.P. Poet Laureate Application Form”, and email it to uppoetlaureatefdn@gmail.com as an attachment along with your current resume.
The Poet Laureate of Michigan's Upper Peninsula 