Manhattan Beach Poet Laureate Program
Mission Statement
The Manhattan Beach Poet Laureate Program seeks to enrich the community through poetry, public engagement, and arts education. The program will cultivate civic pride and foster a deeper understanding of the ideas, traditions, and values that shape Manhattan Beach.
Through public readings, educational programming, and community-based initiatives, the Poet Laureate will promote a love of poetry and literature among residents of all ages.
The Poet Laureate will receive compensation of $4,000 per year ($8,000 total) and a materials budget of $5,000 for the two-year term. The term will align with the City’s fiscal year, with the option to apply for one additional two-year term.
Program Goals
Celebrate and reflect the unique character, history, and identity of Manhattan Beach Promote awareness, appreciation, and understanding of poetry as an art form Engage diverse audiences through inclusive and accessible literary programming Create a lasting body of work that contributes to the City’s cultural legacy At minimum, the Poet Laureate will compile a collection of original works produced during their tenure, including at least four (4) poems per year, which will become part of the City’s permanent collection.
Scope of Work
The Poet Laureate Program is designed to provide a high degree of creative freedom, allowing the selected poet to shape the role in a way that reflects their artistic voice, interests, and approach to community engagement. Rather than prescribing a rigid set of activities, the City of Manhattan Beach intends for the Poet Laureate to act as both a cultural ambassador and program designer—developing meaningful opportunities for residents to engage with poetry across a variety of settings and age groups.
Applicants should carefully consider how they would approach this role and are expected to articulate a clear vision for their tenure. This vision will be expressed through the program proposal required of finalists. The proposal will be a significant factor in the selection process, as it demonstrates the applicant’s ability to translate ideas into thoughtful, feasible, and community-responsive programming.
While the program emphasizes flexibility and artist-led direction, the Poet Laureate will be responsible for fulfilling the following core deliverables:
Required Deliverables
Produce a minimum of four (4) original poems per year for the City of Manhattan Beach, to become part of the City’s permanent collection Collaborate with Manhattan Beach Library staff to develop and implement at least one (1) program focused on engaging teen poets Participate as a featured speaker or reader at a minimum of one (1) City-designated event per year Design and implement at least one (1) poetry-focused program or event specifically for older adults Design and implement at least one (1) all-ages poetry program or community event Beyond these requirements, the Poet Laureate is encouraged to propose and implement additional programs, partnerships, and creative initiatives that align with their proposal and the goals of the program. All activities will be developed in coordination with City staff to ensure alignment with available resources and community needs.
Selection Process
The Poet Laureate will be selected through a competitive process led by the Art in Public Places Committee (APPC), with participation from Cultural Arts Commission members and representatives from the literary community.
A Parks and Recreation staff member will serve as a non-voting advisor to the selection panel.
Current Cultural Arts Commission members, selection committee members, and their immediate family members are not eligible to apply.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
Letter of interest
Proof of South Bay residency
Verification of age (18+)
Professional résumé or CV, including publication history Up to five (5) pages of original poetry (one poem per page) Three professional references (including two letters of support) Statement confirming ability to fulfill the two-year commitment Finalist Requirements
Selected finalists will be required to submit:
A program proposal (maximum 1,000 words) outlining their vision for the two-year term, including goals and potential programming concepts A statement confirming their ability to fulfill the role A live reading of original work before the selection committee and Cultural Arts Commission The Cultural Arts Commission and APPC will forward a final recommendation to the City Council.
Terms & Conditions
The Poet Laureate must:
Agree to the publication of original works on City platforms, including the website, newsletters, and promotional materials Participate in photography and video documentation for public purposes Certify that all submitted and produced work is original and does not infringe on copyright Copyright
The City of Manhattan Beach retains first North American serial and electronic rights to all works created during the Poet Laureate’s tenure and may publish them in any format. These works become part of the City’s permanent collection. All other rights revert to the poet.
Additional Provisions
The City reserves the right to:
Reissue the call for applications if no candidate meets the desired qualifications Reject any or all applications
The selection process will comply with all applicable non-discrimination policies.