2027 Call for Poet Laureate
40W Arts Poet Laureate
2026 Poet Laureate Call for Submissions
Submission Deadline: Sunday, October 25, 2026 at midnight
Term: January 2027 - December 2027 (approximate)
Summary: The Poet Laureate program is a partnership between 40 West Arts District, the West Colfax Community Association (WCCA), and the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District (BID). The Poet Laureate serves all three organizations in the role, acting as a voice and advocate for the Lakewood West Colfax community, alongside memorializing the artistic movement here through storytelling and written word. For this role, the Poet Laureate will receive a $1,000 honorarium. In exchange for this honorarium, the poet laureate will complete three literary programming elements for the district (subject matter and final elements to be determined through brainstorming sessions with and final approval of the district).
POET LAUREATE OVERVIEW
The Poet Laureate program was born in 2021 out of a desire to offer opportunities for artists that also correspond to the 40 West Arts mission of furthering the arts in all forms, including literary arts.
The Poet Laureate will receive a $1,000 honorarium, access to marketing, promotional, and social media support, and integration into the 40 West Arts community. If they’d like to do live readings, publish their work online, or receive other commendations, the district will strive to execute on these requests. In return, the Poet Laureate will work in service to the West Colfax community by conducting three literary programming elements, with the subject matter and final elements to be approved by the district. The Poet Laureate will also maintain an active presence at district events including First Friday opening receptions and other creative programs.
Examples of past programs include (a) compilation of poems by local poets (b) live poetry reading events (c) written works in local magazines and/or online publications (d) poetry writing workshops.
RULES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Poet Laureate understands that they are a representative of 40 West Arts District, the WCCA and the BID in this role. In this role, you will be expected to participate in numerous district-related events. We will work with you and your schedule on the number, duration, and timing of these events.
Work assigned by the district is intended to support and promote Lakewood’s West Colfax corridor, and thus any and all work in your capacity as Poet Laureate is fully subject to edits and approval by the district. Any work that carries a reference to the Poet Laureate role or position or any logo related to the district is subject to review, edits, and approval by the district. Poet Laureate grants the district perpetual rights to any work to use in any format, and likewise the Poet Laureate grants the district permission to use the Poet Laureate’s name and work in the marketing and promotion of this role and the district, now and forever in the future.
The Poet Laureate can create other works during their tenure with any theme or subject matter. These works are fully the responsibility and ownership of the Poet Laureate, and are not subject to edits and approval by the district.
As a representative of the district, the Poet Laureate should conduct themselves in a manner befitting your role, whenever in the district or on official district business.
This is a collaborative effort. Please provide feedback to the district on potential works, concepts, performances and other creative elements or programming that you would like to conduct during your tenure.
You are entitled to a capstone reading of your work created during your tenure. This is not a requirement but is an optional benefit to you at a time and/or event that is mutually agreed upon by the district and you.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
· Submission Deadline: Sunday, October 25th, 2026 at midnight
· Send a single PDF document with all information requested to submissions@40westarts.org.
Your subject heading should read 2027 Poet Laureate, Your Name
Please compile all documents and images into a single PDF for consideration
A letter of interest stating why you wish to be considered for the Poet Laureate position, what you’d bring to the position, and what you plan to work on during your Poet Laureate tenure
Your resume which should include your name, phone number, email address, website and/or social media links
Your artist portfolio and/or examples of your work
Applicants can expect notification regarding their submission status within roughly two weeks of the deadline. Following initial reviews, selected finalists will participate in an interview process, with final selections completed by late November or early December. The term officially begins in early January 2027.