[Archived] City of Alexandria Searches for a Poet Laureate

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	July 14, 2006 PIO# 179-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Searches for a Poet Laureate
Individual Will Promote Appreciation of Poetry, Encourage Creative Writing
and Reading, and Promote Literacy through Poetry

The City of Alexandria is in search of a Poet Laureate to promote an appreciation of poetry as an art form, encourage the creative writing and reading of literature, and promote literacy through poetry. The individual will serve as Poet Laureate for three years and receive a modest honorarium.

Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Nominees must distinguish themselves in the field of poetry through the body of work created; be a resident of the City for a minimum of one year and maintain residency through the three-year term of service; must accept the Poet Laureate post as a ceremonial role, which includes presentations of work appropriate for all audiences; and be 18 years of age or older. All nominations must be submitted to the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, 1108 Jefferson St., by 5 pm on Friday, Aug. 25.

The Poet Laureate will be recognized at the 2006 Alex Awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 20, at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St. The Alex Awards, which is sponsored by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, recognizes individuals, organizations, schools, and businesses that have made exceptional contributions to cultural life in Alexandria.

Jean Elliott, a 78-year-old Alexandria resident, was the first and only Poet Laureate of record for the City. The Alexandria City Council voted Elliot as Poet in Residence and honored her by placing a plaque on her South Fairfax Street home in 1979. She passed away in 1999.

For more information or to obtain a nomination form, call Janet Barnett of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.838.4842, or visit alexandriava.gov.

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