Utmost International Christian Poet Laureate
Are You Our Next Christian Poet Laureate
Our next Christian Poet Laureate will be appointed on March 1, 2008. The term will be from March 1, 2008 until February 28, 2010. The official announcement of the new poet laureate will be on April 12, 2008 at the Gathering of Christian Poets in Edmonton, Alberta. This will also coincide with our first ever celebration of International Christian Poets Day.
Applications for the appointment will be accepted from September 1, 2007 until December 31, 2007. Christian poets are invited to apply for appointment to be Christian Poet Laureate. A poet will be chosen from the applications received.
Questions about this program not answered below may be addressed to the Executive Director of Utmost Christian Writers Foundation, Nathan Harms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Poet Laureate?
The title of Poet Laureate was first used in England during the Middle Ages; it was given to a poet appointed for life by an English sovereign. The Poet Laureate was expected to compose poems for court and national occasions. Today, Poet Laureate is a title given to a poet regarded by a country or region as its most eminent or representative poet.
At Utmost, we appoint Christian poets whose writing we feel represents a standard of excellence in poetry. The Poets Laureate might be considered to be our "standard bearers," demonstrating to the world that Christians are capable of excellent poetry.
Who may apply to be International Christian Poet Laureate?
Any Christian poet writing in the English language may apply for appointment as Utmost Christian Poet Laureate. Applicants need not be members of Utmost Christian Writers. Directors of Utmost Christian Writers Foundation are permitted as applicants, with the exception of the Executive Director, who may not be chosen.
How are the Poets Laureate be selected?
Poets Laureate are selected on the basis of their formal applications, references provided with their applications, personal interviews (if any are conducted), their personal testimonies and the quality of poetry submitted with the applications.
How many Poets Laureate does Utmost appoint?
Only one poet will be selected as Poet Laureate in each term, and the term of each Poet Laureate is two years. A poet may repeat a term as Poet Laureate, but only after two other Poets Laureate have served full terms of two years each.
What is the purpose of the Christian Poet Laureate program?
In line with its mandate to support and encourage poets of Christian faith, Utmost Christian Writers Foundation hopes that the appointment of Christian Poets Laureate will encourage individual poets and increase the public exposure of excellent poetry written by Christians.
What awards and benefits accrue to the appointed Poets Laureate?
Poets Laureate will receive an honorarium of US$200 (for each year of the term in which he or she serves), an engraved plaque, special promotion of his or her poetry, books or other works at the Utmost web site, and such other benefits as may befit the position of Utmost International Christian Poet Laureate. This may or may not include the production (short run) of a chap book of the Poet Laureate's work. These benefits are valued at a minimum of $500 and may in some cases exceed $3,000 in value.
What responsibilities are required of the Poets Laureate?
The Poets Laureate are required to act as examples to other Christian poets by maintaining a good Christian witness and continuing to write poetry. (No specific quantity of poetry is required.) In addition, the Poets Laureate will act as consultants to Utmost Christian Writers, providing input on poetry entered in poetry contests throughout the year, providing critique or comment on poetry (as time permits) and acting voluntarily as a mentor to other Christian poets. In the event that the Poets Laureate provide services to Utmost Christian Writers that are customarily paid by Utmost, the Poet Laureate will be paid for these services at the going rate. The Poet Laureate will act as an important "arm's length" support for the Executive Director and the Directors of Utmost.
I want to apply for the position of Christian Poet Laureate. What do I do next?
Visit our application page to read the requirements of an application. Fill out our official form and provide us with the other materials we request.