Community members are invited to submit names for the next Portsmouth Poet Laureate, whose job it will be to “build community through poetry.” Nominations for the new poet laureate are due by Feb. 15.

The nominee will be expected to create a poetry project that engages the community, and to serve as the public face of poetry in the community. This will be the city’s ninth poet laureate.

John-Michael Albert is the current poet laureate, has created a project called “Ambushed by Poetry,” a sort of poetry treasure hunt which includes poetry in public places, accompanied by a QR code that can be scanned by a smart phone to read the whole poem and learn more about the poet.

Past poet laureates have placed poetry and public art throughout the city, created CDs and anthologies, and engaged audiences through poetic, theatrical and musical performances.
Candidates must live in one of 12 eligible towns (or work at least half-time in Portsmouth) and be well-suited to the role of Portsmouth Poet Laureate. Eligible towns are Portsmouth, Dover, Durham, Greenland, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Rye, Stratham, and Kittery.

Names, including self-nominations, may be submitted through a letter or e-mail and should include the full name of the nominee and current contact information. Nominations can be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program at PO Box 1196, Portsmouth, NH 03802.

Every nominee will be contacted to confirm whether he or she wishes to be considered. Those choosing to go forward will be sent an application packet to complete. The Poet Laureate Selection Committee will review all nominee application packets in March 2013 and will select the next Portsmouth Poet Laureate, who will be announced at a Portsmouth City Council meeting in early April 2013.

For more information, visit www.pplp.org.