The City of Minneapolis, in partnership with The Loft Literary Center, has announced the search for the 2025-2026 Minneapolis Poet Laureate. This two-year term will begin on January 1, 2025, and end on December 31, 2026. The Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for the city's literary culture, promoting poetry and the literary arts by engaging with the community through meaningful projects, public service, and educational opportunities. The position seeks to leverage poetry's transformative power to address civic issues, bring people together, and create a lasting cultural legacy.

Responsibilities for the Poet Laureate include writing a poem reflecting the current state of the city, participating in three official city events annually, organizing a public poetry event, and teaching two classes at The Loft Literary Center. Additionally, the Poet Laureate will have a budget of $4,000 to design and execute a civic project that involves youth or addresses community issues through poetry. The honorarium for the role is $16,000, paid quarterly over the two years. The laureate will also be eligible to apply for the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships, which offer a $50,000 grant for significant civic literary projects.

Applicants must meet several eligibility criteria: they should be at least 21 years old, a resident of Hennepin County for at least one year, and a professional poet with published, performed, or recognized work. A significant connection to the Minneapolis community is essential, and candidates must not be current employees or board members of The Loft Literary Center. Applications will be evaluated based on literary excellence, community impact, project feasibility, and engagement with the city’s cultural landscape.

The application deadline is November 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CT, and submission guidelines are available on The Loft’s website. The selection panel, composed of representatives from the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department and other arts community members, will make the final decision unanimously. This initiative builds on the work of the current Poet Laureate, Heid E. Erdrich, who has set a significant precedent for the role by receiving recognition from the Academy of American Poets.