The City of Minneapolis’ Arts & Cultural Affairs Department and The Loft Literary Center are partnering to identify the 2025–2026 Minneapolis Poet Laureate. This announcement recognizes a new two-year term for the Minneapolis Poet Laureate, and poets and spoken word artists are encouraged to apply.

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 and the literary arts 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.

“Minneapolis has a deep and enduring connection to the arts—creativity thrives in every corner of this city. For generations we’ve been home to artists whose work inspires us, challenges us, and unites us,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “I’m honored to support our next poet laureate, who will use language to bring us all together and show the world that Minneapolis is a beacon of hope, resilience, and creative expression.”

As the administrator of the poet laureate program, the Loft Literary Center is a key partner in this effort. "The Minneapolis Poet Laureate celebrates the profound role that the literary arts play in shaping community and inspiring change,” said Arleta Little, Loft Executive and Artistic Director. “The Loft is honored to work together with the City to help build a more just and creative future for all visitors and residents."

The 25–26 Poet Laureate’s term will be a two-year term — January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

Specifics About the Minneapolis Poet Laureate

The Minneapolis Poet Laureate will have a number of responsibilities during their tenure, including:

• Writing a poem reflecting on the current moment of the city of Minneapolis
• Celebrating the City of Minneapolis through public service engagements, including three addresses at official City events per year
• Leading a public event that features the sharing of poetry and community
• Teaching two classes through The Loft Literary Center that promote poetry as an opportunity for connection.
• Advancing the artform of poetry in the City of Minneapolis as an avenue for deep engagement in our

The Poet Laureate will receive an honorarium of $16,000 ($8,000 per year) to be delivered quarterly across their two-year-long tenure, beginning on January 1, 2025. The Poet Laureate will receive a budget of $4,000 to plan and execute a civic duty project of their design that engages youth and/or addresses issues of the Minneapolis community through poetry.

In addition, the Poet Laureate will be eligible to apply for the prestigious Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships—$50,000 awards given to honor poets of literary merit appointed to serve in civic positions to enable them to undertake meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that engage their fellow residents.

Of note, the inaugural Minneapolis Poet Laureate is Heid E. Erdrich, marking a significant milestone in the city’s cultural and literary landscape. Heid E. Erdrich was selected as one of 22 Poet Laureates throughout the country to receive the prestigious $50,000 award from the Academy of American Poets. Her term is January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

Search and Selection Process

The Minneapolis Poet Laureate will be selected by a panel of five judges through an open application process administered by the Loft. In order to be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Have the ability to complete the mandated expectations and duties over the course of the term
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Be an active professional poet whose work has been published, performed, reviewed, and/or honored
• Be a resident of Hennepin County for a minimum of one year
• Have a significant connection and commitment to the Minneapolis community
• See poetry as an opportunity to engage, serve, and celebrate the Minneapolis community
• Must not be a board member or a full- or part-time employee of The Loft Literary Center

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 Arts & Cultural Affairs Department (ACA) 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 and spoken word artists 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

The deadline to apply will be November 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (CT). Guidelines and application links are available at loft.org/minneapolis-poet-laureate.

Administers 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. As an antiracist organization, the Loft develops programs, services, and events for writers, readers, and storytellers because racism dehumanizes people, and stories reconnect us to our shared humanity. Recognizing the relationship between race, power, and resources, we prioritize the engagement of BIPOC/marginalized communities and work for the equitable distribution of our power and resources. Our core values are creativity, connection, justice, care, courage, and curiosity.