This opportunity is open to writers and poets who:

• Currently reside within Edmonton / amiskwaciy-waskâhikan. This includes the City of Edmonton and the Indigenous communities of Enoch Cree Nation, Alexander First Nation, Paul First Nation and Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation (artists may be asked to provide proof of residency).
• Are 18 years of age or older.
• Have produced work that:
  • Demonstrates poetic flexibility (more than one style)
  • Reflects the life of the City of Edmonton 
  • Is significant to the citizens of Edmonton

The selected poet will: 

• Commit to the full two-year term.
• Assume the role of literary ambassador for the City of Edmonton to audiences both within and outside the City.
• Advocate strongly for the literary arts.
• Present original poetry works at four live events per year at the request of the City, in conjunction with City Council meetings or other civic events. 
• Undertake other events such as presentations or workshops, with other artists and/​or the public, as negotiated with the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Public Library, and Edmonton Arts Council. 
• The Poet Laureate will initiate events and/​or programming related to poetry and collaborate with event organizers and partners as needed.
• Attend and participate in quarterly meetings with the partners to discuss the work to date, receive feedback and advice, and plan future activities.
• Provide twice annual written reporting on their activities as Poet Laureate.

This part-time role is flexible. No office hours are required; however, the Poet Laureate is expected to set their hours as dictated by city events, invitations, and/​or the programming they develop. 

The Edmonton Poet Laureate will receive an honorarium of $10,000 for each year of the two-year term, paid bi-annually. Any travel expenses associated with the role of Poet Laureate will be reimbursed in addition to the annual honorarium. The Poet Laureate is allowed to accept remuneration for work completed outside of the requirements of this role.

All submissions will be completed through the EAC’s online portal SmartSimple. Before completing a submission:

• Complete (or update) and Individual profile in the online portal eac​.smart​sim​ple​.ca.
• Once a profile has been made, the Poet Laureate application form is made available in SmartSimple under the ​“Open Opportunities” icon. If the applicant already has a profile, the Poet Laureate application will be visible a minimum 30 days before the application deadline.

All submissions through SmartSimple must include the following for consideration: 

• A description of the applicant’s contributions to Edmonton’s poetry, literary, or arts community (500 words max). 
• A description of the impact and significance of the applicant’s work to the citizens of Edmonton (500 words max). 
• A description of the applicant’s vision for the Poet Laureate role (500 words max). 
• One Letter of Reference from a member of the poetry, literary, or other relevant artistic communities that speaks to the applicant’s poetic abilities, as well as their influence on their literary peers, Edmonton’s literary scene, and/​or other artists.
• Three examples of the applicant’s work. The examples should demonstrate poetic flexibility and significance to the City of Edmonton. Examples may be written or recorded. If recorded, please provide a link to the audio or video files.

Please do not provide links that go through file sharing or subscription sites that require an account to access, such as Spotify, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., or online portals that require an account to access. This is for the privacy of assessors, as well as to have direct access.

The selection of the next Poet Laureate will be based on finding an individual with a history of artistic excellence, and the ability to undertake the responsibilities of the position.

Selection will be made by a committee, consisting of representatives appointed by the Edmonton Arts Council, the Edmonton Public Library, and the City of Edmonton. That committee will include external representatives with the knowledge and ability to evaluate poetry.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to give a reading and be interviewed by a selection committee in May — June 2025.