The Indiana Arts Commission has announced that it is accepting nominations for Indiana State Poet Laureate.

The Poet Laureate will represent the state of Indiana and the art of poetry through development and implementation of programming for the education community and public. The Poet Laureate will also make formal presentations at various events, pursue individual initiatives to advance knowledge and appreciation of poetry and offer advice to the IAC regarding ways to further poetry in Indiana.

“We have a remarkable poetry community in Indiana,” said George Kalamaras, current Indiana State Poet Laureate. “Poetry is easily one of the oldest, most sacred arts – rooted in words, in breath. We need poetry just as we need the air we breate. I applaud Indiana for recognizing this by offering the position of Poet Laureate, an ambassador for poetry throughout our state.”

Increasing awareness of poetry and the power of the written and spoken word inspired legislation in 2005 to create the State Poet Laureate program. It provides for the development of educational programming coordinated with the Indiana Arts Commission, the Indiana Department of Education and the State Poet Laureate.

Joyce Brinkman was the first State Poet Laureate selected to lead the program. Norbert Krapf, Karen Kovacik and George Kalamaras have since followed.

Nominations for Indiana Poet Laureate should be limited to a single-page cover letter and a resume detailing the nominee’s qualifications and accomplishments. No additional materials need be included with the initial nomination.

Successful nominees will be current residents of Indiana and remain residents during their two year term of service as State Poet Laureate. They should be published poets, with experience in educational program development.

All nominations must be submitted to the Indiana Arts Commission by email, received by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 1, 2015. They can be emailed to Sarah Fronczek at [email protected].

Nominations will be reviewed by a committee of representatives from Indiana’s major institutions of higher education this fall.

Source: Indiana Arts Commission