Got a way with words? Can you apply that skill to articulately immortalizing Eureka as you experience it in its current form? Great! Learn how to apply to be one of Eureka’s next Poet Laureates by absorbing the Ink People Center for the Arts / City of Eureka press release below:

Calling all poets! The Ink People Center for the Arts and the City of Eureka are now accepting applications for the City of Eureka’s next Poet Laureates.  

Poetry invites us to open up our senses to the experience of place, self, and other; the City of Eureka’s Poet Laureate Program brings new people and perspectives into visibility and generates powerful language for expressing the experience of “being here.”

In 2021 a panel of five judges, including at least one youth member, will review submitted applications and appoint up to two youth poet laureates and up to two adult poet laureates. These poets will serve as poetry ambassadors to the city of Eureka for a two-year period.

Responsibilities associated with the Poet Laureate position in the adult category include: writing six - eight poems reflecting life in Eureka; participating in two poetry readings related to the city of Eureka; presenting two poems at a city council meeting; planning and executing at least one poetry-related project in the community; meeting with the youth poet laureate(s) at least twice to share poetry and experiences as a writer; exchanging with other poet laureates when possible.

The Poet Laureate(s) will receive: nomination by the Eureka Arts and Culture Commission for the California Poet Laureate position; printing of 10 broadsides or one chapbook of poems; a $250 stipend; public acknowledgement through a press release and mention on the city website, social media channels, and newsletter; and recording of selected poetry on local television such as Access Humboldt. The Eureka Poet Laureate Program will help facilitate poetry exchanges with other poet laureates when possible.

Responsibilities associated with the youth Poet Laureate position include: writing 6 - 8 poems reflecting life in Eureka; participating in a poetry reading related to Eureka at least once in each year; presenting two poems at a city council meeting; meeting with the adult poet laureate at least twice to share poetry and experiences as a writer, and exchanging with other poet laureates when the possibility allows.

The youth Poet Laureate(s) will receive: printing of 10 broadsides or one chapbook of poems; a $125 stipend; public acknowledgement through a press release and mention on the city website, social media channels, and newsletter; and recording of their selected poetry on local television  Access Humboldt. The Eureka Poet Laureate Program will help facilitate poetry exchanges with other youth poet laureates when possible.

To be eligible, poets must live or have a writing studio within the city limits of Eureka, California, or within 1 mile of Eureka. 

The application period runs through May 28, 2021. To learn more, view eligibility requirements and submit an application go to  
https://www.inkpeople.org/eureka-poet-laureate.