Minneapolis Poet Laureate

Minneapolis Poet Laureate

The City of Minneapolis’ Arts & Cultural Affairs Department and The Loft Literary Center are partnering on the City of Minneapolis Poet Laureate Program. The poet laureate’s term will be two years, January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028.

The Minneapolis Poet Laureate is an official ambassador of the city’s literary culture, connecting our community through the art of poetry. As an advocate for poetry in Minneapolis, the poet laureate will engage the community in meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects. The goal is to share the transformative art of poetry through community and educational opportunities. The poet laureate also takes part in civic ceremonies in conjunction with the city, creating a unique literary legacy.

Past Minneapolis Poet Laureates include Heid E. Erdrich and Junauda Petrus. 

Specifics About the Poet Laureate

The poet laureate will have a number of responsibilities during their tenure, including: 

● Writing an official poem for the City of Minneapolis reflecting on a current moment in the City of Minneapolis
● Celebrating the City of Minneapolis through public service engagements, including addresses at official City events per term
● Leading public events that features the sharing of poetry and community conversation per term
● Teaching courses through The Loft Literary Center that promotes poetry as an opportunity for connection.
● Advancing the artform of poetry in the City of Minneapolis as an avenue for deep engagement in our community. 

The poet laureate will receive an honorarium of $16,000 ($8,000 per year) to be delivered quarterly across their two-year tenure, beginning on January 1, 2027. The poet laureate will be honored at an inaugural event, celebrating their induction in January at Open Book in downtown Minneapolis. In addition, the Minneapolis Poet Laureate is eligible to apply for the prestigious Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships—$50,000 national award recognizing poets of exceptional literary merit who serve in civic leadership roles.

Eligibility

•    Applicants must be at least 21 years of age 
•    Applicants must be active professional poet whose work has been published, performed, reviewed, and/or honored 
•    Applicants must be Hennepin County residents and be able to work in-person throughout the term of their work on this program. Preference will be given to Minneapolis residents.  
•    Applicants must have the ability to complete the mandated expectations and duties over the course of the term 
•    Applicants must have a significant connection and commitment to the Minneapolis community.
•    Applicants must see poetry as an opportunity to engage, serve, and celebrate the Minneapolis community .
•    Board members or full or part-time employees of The Loft Literary Center are ineligible.

Application

To be considered, apply at this link. All applications must include the following:

• A curriculum vitae or résumé;
• Five examples of work. These examples might include, but are not limited to, individual poems, recorded performance, or other multimedia projects. Examples of work are not required to be previously published, but do note any details of past publication as applicable.
• An artist statement no longer than 1000 words describing the poet’s commitment and approach to the artform
• A plan for a civic duty project no longer than 1000 words describing a project to engage and serve the Minneapolis community through poetry. This project should engage youth and/or addresses important statewide or local issues, and the statement should include the anticipated reach or impact. 
• All applications must be submitted via Submittable by October 7, 2026 11:59 PM CT.

Selection Process

The poet laureate will be considered based on their eligibility and the content of their application. The selection panel is made up of members of the Minneapolis Arts Commission and other arts community representatives. The panel will be selected by the city of Minneapolis and The Loft Literary Center. The panel must come to a unanimous decision to select the poet laureate.
In addition to fulfilling the eligibility requirements, applicants will be reviewed based on this additional criteria:
•    The literary excellence of the poet’s work amidst the contemporary poetry landscape
•    The community impact of the poet on other artmakers in the city of Minneapolis
•    The feasibility of any proposed public engagement projects
•    The wider reputation of the poet and their work
•    Their works’ engagement with the city of Minneapolis 

Administrators of the Award

The Arts & Cultural Affairs Department (ACA) exists to advance, support, stimulate, and promote a diverse and active arts and cultural environment that recognizes and draws on the full potential of Minneapolis’ artists and arts organizations, reflects, and responds to civic concerns and aspirations, and enriches the lives of all people who live in, work in, and visit Minneapolis.
The Loft Literary Center advances the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, to create and celebrate connections, and to build just, life-sustaining communities. We grow writers and build community by creating literary experiences that cultivate craft and connection. 
We envision a world where the power of the word liberates minds, deepens relationships, and inspires movements for people and planet.

Questions

If you have questions about your application, please contact Cristeta Boarini, Partnerships Program Manager at the Loft Literary Center at [email protected] or 612-215-2593. Please note that we are anticipating a high volume of applications, and may not be able to update you on the status of your application until December 2026.