OVERVIEW

The City of Costa Mesa City Council approved an Arts & Culture Master Plan in March of 2021. Goal three (3) of this plan outlines a plan to “Professionalize and elevate the status of Arts and Culture in City government and to boldly assert Costa Mesa’s ‘City of the Arts’ stature and brand, placing Arts & Culture front and center in all that the City does.” Part of this larger plan includes the appointment of an Artist Laureate, to be selected on an annual basis with an honorarium and public engagement responsibilities. In the first year of this program, the Poet Laureate Program will be implemented as a pilot program for the Artist Laureate Program.

MISSION

To support local artists and to create an opportunity for them to showcase their talents, while contributing to a creative ecosystem in Costa Mesa. The Poet Laureate promotes the literary arts, while also increasing appreciation for the reading and writing of poetry and self-expression.

Poet Laureate Program Guidelines (downloadable application included)

 Download the Flyer

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & TIMELINE

Application Timelines

The online application reopens September 9, 2024 and will be open for applications until October 28, 2024. Applicants will hear back in late November, 2024, if they have been appointed to the position.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Each applicant must fill out an online application
• 5 written poetry examples (self-published or published)
• 1 video recording sample of poetry reading or performance of one of the written work samples.
• 500-word proposal of how they would like to engage with the public as the City’s Poet Laureate, including audience and engagement strategy, and samples of workshops and or projects that would support the focus or them of their two-year appointment.

CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSIONS

Eligibility and Basic Information

The Poet Laureate Program is open to individual practicing poets and is an honorary position with the City of Costa Mesa for two years. Qualifying Applicants must:

1. Have submitted an online application
2. Be at least 18 years of age or older
3. Lived in Orange County for at least one year
4. Be able to serve a two-year term
5. Be a practicing poet, dedicated to producing poetry (in any form, genre or style) on a regular basis
6. Contribute to the literary arts scene and participate in community engagement in Costa Mesa
7. Understand that the audiences will be broad-based and of all ages, and in representing the City’s inclusive, non-partisan stance, must use discretion when acting in the capacity of the City’s Poet Laureate.

HONORARIUM & TERM

Selected poets shall be compensated for their time and community engagements. The amount shall cover costs for the poet’s time spent in creating poems, public speaking engagements and occasionally being available for interviews or photo opportunities to be used for promotional purposes.

• The Poet Laureate’s two-year term appointment officially commences on: (TBD)
• Poet will also have prep time before commencing the Poet Laureate appointment and meetings with staff to discuss an individualized Scope of Work
• The Poet Laureate will be paid a $2,500 stipend per year ($5,000 total).