Deadline Approaching: City of Salem Seeks First Poet Laureate

Mayor Dominick Pangallo announced last month that residents of Salem can begin to apply to be Salem’s First Poet Laureate. This join program between the Salem Public Lirbary and the Mayor’s Office will help promote and celebrate the diverse community of the spoken word art form here in Salem.

Interested residents must apply by Friday May 31st and must be 18 years of age or older and must currently reside in Salem. Individuals must have a demonstrated body of work and provide samples that show high quality poetry. Individuals considered for this position must have a demonstrated history of community engagement. Additional submission guidelines as well as the application can be found online at www.salemma.gov/poetlaureate

The application will remain open until May 31stThe Mayor’s Office staff will review applications for completeness and transmit eligible applications to the Poet Laureate Selection Committee (PLSC). The PLSC will then review and score the applications to identify up to four finalists. Finalist interviews will begin in August, with the official announcement of the Mayor’s appointment of the new Poet Laureate by September 30th. The Poet Laureate’s term will begin January 1, 2025 and conclude December 31, 2026.