The Poet Laureate and the Rising Poet Laureate will serve three-year terms, which will commence in January 2025. Their first public poetry reading is slated for early next year, and from there, they will be a constant presence at various community events, sharing their writing with the public. Additionally, you can look forward to a new poetry column in “The Telegraph” newspaper and captivating poetry installations on public buses, all designed to bring the magic of poetry to everyday life.

The Poet Laureate program is funded by the City of Durango’s Lodgers Tax Arts and Culture Fund and administered by the Friends of the Durango Public Library and a Poet Laureate Committee. The program has been created to make a vibrant platform for local poets to share their unique voices while engaging with the community at large.

To support their contributions to Durango’s celebration of the arts, the Poet Laureate receives an annual stipend of $2,000, while the Rising Poet Laureate is awarded $500 annually. Their work aims to represent the poetic arts, create original works reflecting Durango’s cultural landscape, and further the city’s creative economy through active public engagement.