Hamilton is searching for its first ever ‘Poet in Place’

Wordsmiths, take note: the City of Hamilton is on the hunt for its first ever Poet in Place. 

This new initiative – the first of its kind in Canada, according to the City – will see a local poet or spoken word artist awarded a $20,000 honorarium to commit to a two-year term of publicly engaged poetry projects and programs in Hamilton. 

The selected Poet in Place will play a key role in the city’s cultural programming by enhancing public spaces, connecting local communities, provide opportunities for engagement through poetry and spoken word, and increase the visibility of the poetic arts in the city. 

Calling all local poets and spoken word artists! Would you like to be Hamilton’s first Poet in Place and lead poetry projects in the community?

Apply by November 3. Full details available at https://t.co/C7TYS14rK4 pic.twitter.com/l5iljr93f1

— gritLIT Festival (@gritlitfestival) September 19, 2023

Some of this public engagement will be in the form of original works of poetry performed at city events, workshops created and hosted through the Hamilton Public Library, and development placemaking poetry projects in collaboration with city staff. 

Applications for the inaugural Poet in Place program are open on the city website until November 3rd, and interested artists must submit an artist biography, resume, references, work samples, a project proposal, and a community engagement statement. 

Selections will be made by a jury comprised of poets, literary artists, and individuals with placemaking expertise. 

To learn more about this exciting new initiative in Hamilton, visit the city website! 

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