The Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting applications for the 2025-2027 Tacoma Poet Laureate position. Literary artists who are emerging, professional, or established and producing poetry in any form, genre, or style are encouraged to apply. Writers who work in genres intersecting with poetry are also welcome to apply. The Poet Laureate will build community, amplify what makes Tacoma unique, and provide opportunities for people’s voices to be heard.

The Tacoma Poet Laureate will hold the title a period of two years, from September2025 to April 2027, and receive a $6,000 stipend paid in four installments over the term. The Poet Laureate will also have access to a project budget of up to $1,000 to support public programming. Responsibilities include actively contributing to Tacoma’s literary community in meaningful ways through readings, performances, workshops, presentations, publications, and/or special projects; participating in Tacoma Arts Month each October; presenting at official City of Tacoma events as invited; and helping to produce the 2027 Tacoma Poet Laureate ceremony to announce the next Laureate.

The Poet Laureate will determine the direction, focus, and public components of their term of service. The Poet Laureate is expected to uphold principles of equity and inclusion, ensuring programming reaches and resonates with all communities across Tacoma. The individual should actively strive to engage Tacoma’s diverse communities, including those shaped by intersecting identities such as race, gender, age, ability, and economic background, expanding access to the literary arts for underserved/underrepresented audiences.

The current Tacoma Poet Laureate will curate and host a poetry event at which the newly selected Poet Laureate will be honored. The event date will be sometime in mid to late August 2025 and will be announced soon.

In alignment with Tacoma City Council Resolution 40622, the Tacoma Arts Commission is committed to sustained and transformational anti-racist work, including programming supported through the Tacoma Poet Laureate program. As stated by Mayor Victoria Woodards, "Dismantling more than 400 years of systemic racism will not happen overnight. This must be a sustained effort that invites the whole community to join us in radically reimagining our institutions and the services they provide."

The Tacoma Arts Commission is striving toward social justice. We are committed to supporting equitable opportunities to broaden artistic expression while encouraging inter-sectional communities through inclusive relationships and outreach. Arts and culture are uniquely positioned to touch every person and every part of Tacoma. We are committed to supporting the entirety of our community.

We invite applicants to consider how their proposed community engagement work can help build a more Compassionate Tacoma with projects that are equitable and inclusive, offer opportunities for connection and relationship building, and contribute to the social, emotional, and physical well-being of our residents.

Before applying, please read the full guidelines for complete terms.