Are you passionate about poetry?
Are you 13-19 years old?
Do you live in one of the following counties: Escambia (FL), Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Fort Walton, or Bay?
(Note: Alabama counties have unfortunately been removed from the qualifying counties due to our organization's current bylaws. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.)
Are you actively involved in giving back to your community?
Do you enjoy reading/performing your poetry for an audience?
If you answered yes to these questions, we would love to have you apply to be the first ever Emerald Coast Youth Poet Laureate! Finalists will be eligible to compete at the regional level and could even potentially apply to become the next official National Youth Poet Laureate!
If you missed our virtual workshop, click below for the recording for more information about the program and detailed instructions for applying. Don't miss the beginning, as our current Northwest Florida Poet Laureate, Asia Samson, and our past Poet Laureate Katherine Nelson-Born shared some of their amazing poems.
We are excited to read the amazing words you have to share!
Click here to view the Powerpoint slides shared during our Zoom workshop.
You will submit five poems, a resume, and a short recording of you reciting one of your original poems. Following are examples of Youth Poet Laureate resumes. Don't feel you have to follow these formats exactly. Use them as a guide only. These examples are from regional/national applicants, so don't worry if you don't have as many accolades on your application. We don't expect you to. Include as much information as possible. Formatting of the resume will not be part of your final score.
Finalists will be notified after April 10th and scheduled for a short virtual interview with our panel of judges. The chosen poet and up to two "ambassadors" will be invited to a ceremony at the Pensacola Museum of Art in downtown Pensacola on Sunday, May 3rd at 5:00 PM. Winners will receive prizes and read their work at the ceremony.
Only after you attended the workshop or watched the video above, click below to view submission guidelines and to submit your application via Submittable.com.
For more information about the National Youth Poet Laureate program, visit www.YouthLaureate.org