For Artists

Montana Poet Laureate

Montana Poet Laureate Nomination Form for 2007–2009

Senate Bill 69, which creates the honorary, unpaid post of Montana state poet laureate, was signed into law by Gov. Brian Schweitzer on March 24, 2005. The first Montana state poet laureate, Sandra Alcosser, was appointed by Gov. Schweitzer on July 13, 2005.

Download the Guidelines and Nomination form below.

What is the Montana Poet Laureate Position?

The Montana Poet Laureate recognizes and honors a citizen poet of exceptional talent and accomplishment. The Poet Laureate also encourages appreciation of poetry and literary life in Montana. This position was created by the state legislature in 2005.

What is the Term of Service and Compensation?

The term of service is for two years. The award is honorific. A poet who has served as Poet Laureate may not be re-nominated.

Who is eligible to be nominated Poet Laureate of Montana?

Any citizen of the state of Montana may nominate a poet for the Poet Laureate position. A poet may not self-nominate him or herself, and no award will be given posthumously. Nominations for Poet Laureate of Montana will be accepted for Montana poets who meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Resident of Montana for at least one year
  • Applicant must be at least 21 years old
  • At least one book of poetry published, which may be self-published, but not by a vanity press. A vanity press is defined as one that does any of the following: requires individual writers to pay for part or all of the publication costs, asks writers to buy or sell copies of the publication, publishes the work of anyone who subscribes to the publication or joins the organization through membership fees, publishes the work of anyone who buys an advertisement in the publication, or publishes work without competitive selection
  • Available to travel and give presentations
  • Must not be enrolled in an undergraduate degree-seeking program
  • Must not be self-nominated
  • Must not be a member or staff member of the Montana Arts Council
  • No posthumous awards
  • The recipient of the position of Poet Laureate of Montana must have produced work of the highest caliber and critical acclaim and have contributed substantial service to the development of the literary arts as demonstrated by the submitted application
  • The subject of the work submitted may be on any topic, although consideration will be give to works representative of Montana and its cultures.

What is the selection process for the Poet Laureate?

A panel drawing from members of the literary community will select three finalists from among the nominations. These names will be submitted to the Montana Arts Council for approval and finalization. The Poet Laureate of Montana will then be chosen by the Governor from among the nominees by July, 2007. An honoring ceremony will be hosted in the state Capitol featuring a reading by the poet.

How will Poet Laureate nominations be evaluated?

The Poet Laureate will be chosen on the basis of three criteria:

  • Excellence as evidenced by the submitted poetry sample
  • Exemplary professionalism as evidenced by an established history of substantial and significant publication in journals and books including at least one book of poems published by a commercial or small press (not a vanity press—see eligibility requirements) and special honors, awards, fellowships, or other recognition
  • Advancement of poetry in Montana communities as evidenced by: an established history of activity in Montana's literary community through readings, publications, public presentations and/or teaching and the nominated poet's statement

To be accepted for consideration nominations must include the following:

  1. Completed nomination forms (attached), signed by nominator and nominated poet that include a binding statement that the poetry sample is the nominee's and the materials submitted are true and complete.
  2. A cover letter from the nominator of no more than two pages providing the following information: name and a short biography of the nominated poet and a summary of significant awards and published works.
  3. The poet-nominee's resume
  4. A summary of no more than one page indicating why the nominator considers the work of the nominated poet to be of the highest quality.
  5. A work sample of no more than ten poems. Submissions may not exceed 15 continuously numbered 8 ½" x 11" pages (one side), no less than 12- point type. Please provide copyright information where appropriate; all submissions become part of the public record. Both published and non-published poetry may be submitted. All submissions must be in manuscript form and either computer-generated or machine typed. Materials hand-written or produced with a dot-matrix printer will NOT be accepted.
  6. A recent photograph of the nominee

Submit a total of eight copies of the above materials: one original complete nomination (nomination form with original signatures plus support materials) and seven copies. Only ONE photograph is required. All materials submitted must be in 12-point type or larger.

Re-nomination of Previously Nominated Poets

  • Poets who have been previously nominated who are willing to be considered again for the position of Poet Laureate with the same application that was used before should simply submit a letter to the arts council by May 4, 2007 stating this willingness to be re-considered.
  • If a previously nominated poet wishes to submit new work, new letters of recommendation, or other new elements an entirely new application must be submitted.

Receipt deadline for all nominations is Friday, May 4, 2007.

Mail nominations to:

Poet Laureate Program, Montana Arts Council,
P. O. Box 202201, Helena MT 59620-2201

Land address for other delivery:

Poet Laureate Program, Montana Arts Council,
316 N Park Avenue, Suite 252, Helena MT 59620

For further information, contact

Arni Fishbaugh, Executive Director, Montana Arts Council at 406-444-6546 or 406-444-6430; email:afishbaugh@mt.gov

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