Call for Expressions of Interest

Extended to March 20, 2009

The City of Vancouver is requesting submissions for the position of Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate position was created in December 2006 and the successful applicant will be the City's second Poet Laureate.

The Poet Laureate is an honorary two-year position. During that term, the Poet Laureate will act as a champion for poetry, language and the arts and create a unique artistic legacy through public readings and civic interactions. The Poet Laureate is also expected to attend a variety of civic functions, participate in public poetry events in Vancouver and carry through one or more special civic projects. The general mandate is to raise the status of poetry in the everyday consciousness of Vancouverites. Each Poet Laureate will be free to pursue an individual agenda in addition to their civic duties.

Nominations/applications are invited from published poets who are currently resident in the City of Vancouver and who have either an established body of work or have been recognized for notable contributions early in their career.

Submissions will be evaluated by a three-person Committee comprised of representatives of the literary/poetry community nominated by the Vancouver International Writers Festival. Submissions must include examples of past artistic work as well as specific proposals for how the poet will create, present or perform works of poetry relevant to civic events and the lives of Vancouver citizens.

Terms of Reference

1. Eligibility Criteria

• published poets who are currently resident in the City of Vancouver;
• who have either an established body of work or have been recognized for notable contributions early in their career;
• have produced a minimum of two published works (not self-published) as well as other publications that display literary excellence; and
• some of their work should be relevant to Vancouver and/or subjects that comment on the life of the city.

2. Selection Criteria

• excellence of the poet's work;
• publication of a significant number of works;
• has made a significant contribution to poetry and the literary life of Vancouver;
• reputation as a poet of stature;
• has influenced other local writers and poets;
• viability of the proposed poetry/civic events; and
• potential impact on the community of the proposed poetry/civic events.

3. Selection Process

Eligible poets are invited to submit proposals that include the following materials:

• curriculum vitae;
• examples of past published work;
• proposal detailing exactly how the poet would propose to represent the City of Vancouver and interact in civic life; and
• confirmation of place of residence.

Nominations will also be accepted where the nominee has agreed in writing and provided the materials outlined above.

4. Duties

The Poet Laureate will be expected to:

• participate in the literary life of the City;
• produce new original works during their term that reflect or represent ideas and issues of importance to the people of Vancouver;
• present, in person, works of significance at civic events, City Council meetings, or official functions;
• read from their work at the annual City of Vancouver Arts Awards and other civic cultural events;
• provide content for the Poet Laureate website, Vancouver Verse; and
such other duties as are proposed in their submission and are deemed viable by the Assessment Committee.

5. Term and Remuneration

The Poet Laureate will be selected for a period of two years commencing in May 2009. A total stipend of $7,000 will be provided for the two years ($3,500 per year). Additional funds may be available to support Laureate activities.

6. Intellectual Property

All writing, notes and original materials produced during the tenure of the Poet Laureate will remain the property of the Poet Laureate.

Deadline for expressions of interest - March 20, 2009

Hard copy expressions of interest should be sent to:

City of Vancouver Poet Laureate Selection Committee Library Administration
7th Floor
Vancouver Public Library
350 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada, V6B 6B1

For more information please contact:

Jean Kavanagh
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Vancouver Public Library
604-331-3895
jkavanagh@vpl.ca