Poet Laureate

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Poet Laureate

Seeking Candidates for Cobourg’s Next Poet Laureate

Each term of Council appoints a Poet Laureate to express the importance of literature, language and all arts and culture within the Town of Cobourg. The position of Poet Laureate serves to complement the development and promotion of Cobourg as a cultural community and is appointed to acknowledge the individual's accomplishment in poetry and to recognize a champion for all the lively arts, particularly poetry and other literary forms.

Application deadline is Friday, January 12, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Town of Cobourg Seeking Candidates for Cobourg’s Next Poet Laureate

Role and Responsibilities

The Poet Laureate will act as literary ambassador for the Town of Cobourg and will be required to write one new and original poem in each year of their appointment that addresses or reflects one or more aspects of life in Cobourg, to be read (by the Poet Laureate or a designate) on the occasion of the Mayor's annual New Year's Day Levy and the Inaugural event on the year of a Municipal election. The Poet Laureate will give the Town a limited license to publish these poems that is first publication rights in hard copy and electronic forms, including on the Town website for the term of the appointment. Copyright for all these poems will be retained by the Poet; the intellectual rights to writing produced during tenure remains the property of the Laureate.

The Poet Laureate will be present and read a selection of poetry (which may be the Laureate's original composition or a piece by another poet) at no fewer than three (3) of the following public events each year:

Mayor's Levy
Poetry Weekend in Cobourg
Canada Day
Cobourg Day
James Cockburn Day (Cobourg's Father of Confederation)
Inaugural Council Meeting (on the year of a Municipal election)
Selected non-annual civic ceremonies or official functions such as the opening of new buildings or parks, the inauguration of new community festivals or events, the installation ceremonies for public art, the official greeting of visiting dignitaries, the swearing-in for other municipal positions, significant retirements or milestones reached by citizens, or other occasions by invitation of the Mayor.

Furthermore, the Poet Laureate will serve as an advocate for literature and for literacy; bringing the effect of Laureate's role into our schools and library is strongly encouraged.

The Poet Laureate will be expected to participate in the strong and thriving literary life of our Town; the Laureate is free to determine which specific activities will be pursued in this area and in consultation with the Mayor. The Poet Laureate's efforts should also ensure that our community encourages self-expression by youth through spoken word and written poetry.

Each Laureate is encouraged to follow the example of Cobourg's First Poet Laureate in that legacy projects were created to enhance our Town's literary voices and support the other Arts.

While it is acknowledged that each Laureate will bring a different emphasis to the position, the Town Council encourages every Poet Laureate to launch a public project during each term of the appointment, even community-wide in scope. The duties of the Poet Laureate will not include reading manuscripts or any requirement to comment on other people's individual writing efforts

Eligibility

Preferred Candidates should:

be willing to fulfill the duties of the position;
display literary excellence and significant ability in composing poetry;
hold a record of high achievement in poetry demonstrated by peer and/or public recognition;
have a published book of poetry and/or a history of publication in literary Periodicals, print or digital and/or performance;
live and/or work in the Town of Cobourg or currently pay taxes to the municipality.

The Poet Laureate must relinquish the position if he or she leaves Cobourg permanently or is absent for a period greater than one year during the appointed term, or if other specific duties and criteria set out above are repeatedly not performed or cannot be met.

Selection Criteria:

aptitude as a poet, also the attributes of the poet's compositions;
an acknowledged contribution to the Arts in our Town and to poetry;
knowledge and understanding of Cobourg indicating a capacity to capture in poetry the life, times, and place;
personal qualities and stature to effectively fulfill the ambassadorial duties of Poet Laureate;
the Committee will follow the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy for the Town and that be reflected in all public communications.

How to Apply

Candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest along with their resume and three samples of their work to clerk@cobourg.ca no later than Friday, January 12, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

If samples are not able to be emailed, printed copies can be made by visiting the Legislative Services Department at Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg.

Letters of interest should detail the candidate’s vision for the 2022 – 2026 appointment term including how they will elevate the position of the Town of Cobourg Poet Laureate and engage the community through the language arts.

The Poet Laureate Nominating Ad Hoc Committee will review all submissions. A short list of candidates will be welcomed to have an in-person interview and to present an original piece of work for the Ad Hoc Committee. Upon final review and deliberation, the Ad Hoc Committee will present a letter of recommendation to the Town of Cobourg Council for the official appointment of the Poet Laureate.

Click here to view the Terms of Reference.

Support

The Poet Laureate will receive an annual honorarium of $500.00 for each year of their term as an appreciation for service to the Town of Cobourg.

Contact

For additional information regarding the Town of Cobourg Poet Laureate application process, please contact the Municipal Clerk's Department at:

Phone: 905-372-4301

Email: clerk@cobourg.ca

In Person: Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West, Cobourg

Past Poet Laureates

Jessica Outram (2019 - 2022)

Jessica Outram has loved poetry for as long as she can remember. She is the author of The Writing Spiral: Learning as a Writer (2014) and poetry chapbook Songs of Sunshine and Snowflakes (2013). Jessica's poetry has been featured in local publications and anthologies. Her play Once Upon a Rocking Chair had a run of sold-out performances with Northumberland Players in 2016. Jessica is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and a proud citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario. She is an elementary school principal who writes every day.

For more than twenty years, Jessica has worked as an educator in Ontario in both Elementary and Secondary schools. Creativity-in-community is important to her. Some of the local groups she's connected to include: Northumberland Players, Safe Harbour and SONG, Spirit of the Hills Arts Association, and Cobourg Poetry Workshop. For many years, she was also a member of The Writers’ Community of Durham Region.

World Poetry Day: A Poem for Peace (March 21, 2020)
In Winter: A Poem for Eric Winter (January 24, 2020)
Hometown Hockey (January 1, 2020)
Take Back the Night: And Still We Shine (September 20, 2019)
Being Poetica (June 24, 2019)