2025 Dutchess County Poet Laureate Nomination Form

Program Overview:
Dutchess County established the Dutchess County Poet Laureate in 2016 to honor local outstanding poets, integrate poetry into the community, enrich the education of our young people, and enhance the County’s position as a cultural center in the Mid-Hudson region. Robert Kelly served as the first Dutchess County Poet Laureate and Stephanie JT Russell served in 2023 and 2024. We are now welcoming new nominations for 2025.

• Appointment is for a one-year term, allowing for one additional consecutive one-year term based on the availability of the poet.
• This position is an honorary appointment without salary.
• The Poet Laureate will have a webpage on the AMH website with a live link on the Dutchess County Government website.

Nominations:
Nominations may come from individuals or organizations within or outside Dutchess County. Poets may self nominate.

Duties:
The Poet Laureate should shape the position in their own way. Duties typically include public activities with schools, community groups, and the press during the year and contact with writers and readers by mail, email and/or through a website. Other duties will include:

• Presentations of his/her poetry at the State of the County Address in 2024, usually scheduled in the first quarter of the year. 
• Presentations at other appropriate public events, such as National Poetry Month in April.
• Advocacy of poetry in the community, including, but not limited to, bringing poetry to school children, projects or programs that promote the appreciation of poetry, or poetry workshops with underserved populations in the community.

AMH strives toward broad inclusion and true access to arts and cultural programming for all. AMH strongly encourages thoughtful outreach to underserved audiences. These are groups who may have limited access to art programs, services, or resources due to location, race, economic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or other demonstrable factors. Some groups underserved by the arts in Dutchess County may include Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian, People of Color, LGBTQ+, disabled, elder, youth, rural, and/or low-income audiences.

Criteria:
Nominees for the Dutchess County Poet Laureate must:

• Reside in Dutchess County for at least two years.
• Be a published author with a body of high quality work.
• Be comfortable in the performance of poetry in public.
• Be interested in presenting a sense of the community through poetry.
• Be willing to advocate and educate people about poetry.

Review Process:
All nominees for the Dutchess County Poet Laureate will be reviewed by a selection panel consisting of published poetry writers and community members. Using the criteria listed above, the panel will make a recommendation for official approval by the Dutchess County Executive's office.

Deadline to apply is December 10, 2024

AMH welcomes all questions regarding this program and nomination form. Questions may be directed to Lilia Pérez, Grants Manager at email: lperez@artsmidhudson.org or phone: 845-454-3222 ex 11.