Call for Nominations: Colorado's 11th Poet Laureate

The Colorado Poet Laureate is a two-year position, selected by the Governor, that was created to promote an appreciation of poetry in Colorado and to honor outstanding Colorado poets. In this role, the Poet Laureate serves as an active advocate for poetry, literacy, and literature by participating in readings and events at schools, libraries, literary festivals, and the State Capitol, as well as with local writing groups and through social media. 

Nominations are now open for the next Colorado Poet Laureate, who will serve a two-year term from January 2026 through December 2027. 

The Poet Laureate will represent and celebrate the breadth and history of stories of the land currently known as Colorado. Alongside the marking of 150 years since the state entered the Union, the 11th Poet Laureate will explore and undertake diverse, imaginative efforts to remember our shared past and imagine a unified future, recognizing that our history includes the experiences of a range of peoples who have called the region home, across cultures, ages, abilities, orientations, and rural and urban areas. 

Colorado Humanities & Colorado Center for the Book and Colorado Creative Industries will annually supply the Poet Laureate with a stipend to support appearances and engagements in a variety of locations around the state. Potential examples include: appearances in both urban and rural-area community spaces, State Capitol visits, and participation in the Colorado Book Awards. Organizers will meet with the Poet Laureate in an initial planning phase to collaboratively build a plan of appearances, community engagements, and media engagements. In Year 1, the Poet Laureate will be provided a $10,000 stipend and an additional $5,000 to cover public presentation travel expenses associated with Colorado's 250/150 commemoration. Year 2 includes an anticipated $10,000 stipend, a portion of which will be allocated to travel for public appearances.

Nomination information

Nominations will be accepted October 7 through October 27, 2025. 

Individuals may self-nominate, and any organization or individual may nominate a poet for consideration. Nominators should work closely with their nominees to submit the nomination form and information requested. 

The Colorado Poet Laureate must have been a full-time Colorado resident for at least three years prior to the nomination deadline and anticipates maintaining residency during the term of office. In addition, the Poet Laureate agrees to participate in a standard background check.

Selection Process

The selection of the Poet Laureate will include an initial review round by a geographically and culturally diverse panel of representatives of arts, humanities education, and literary communities who will review nominations and make recommendations to the Governor. The Governor will make the final selection from the finalists recommended by the panel. 

Selection is based on artistic excellence, a demonstrated history of community service in the advancement of poetry, demonstrated ability to make meaningful connections with a range of communities through public poetry engagements, and ability to present poetry with notable or unique effect.