Are you Rockland County's next poet laureate?

Rockland County is seeking applications for a new Rockland County poet laureate position for the 2025-26 term. The program is a collaboration between the Arts Council of Rockland and the County of Rockland.

The poet laureate will serve as an ambassador for the literary arts, engaging audiences throughout Rockland County and beyond. By connecting writers and the public, the poet laureate will expand the reach of Rockland County’s programs and educational activities. Moreover, the poet laureate will enhance public awareness of poetry, art, and local events, while fostering collaborations across numerous agencies and organizations.

The position carries an annual stipend of $1,250.

Dan Masterson was Rockland's first poet laureate from 2009 to 2013 and apparently the post has been vacant since then.

“The Rockland County Poet Laureate will have the power to connect communities through public readings and civic events,” County Executive Ed Day said. “They will also promote and celebrate the arts, culture, and literature that make Rockland County a wonderful place to live.”

 ACOR Executive Director Dorothy Atzl said the position would recognize poetry's vital role in the community’s cultural traditions and civic life.

"Rockland County has an active literary scene comprised of talented poets, writers, and storytellers who elevate and promote the literary arts," Atzl said.

Applications for the 2025-26 Rockland County poet laureate will be accepted between Aug. 15 though Sept. 30, and must be submitted through the Arts Council of Rockland’s website. The laureate will be appointed to serve a one-year term, with the option to renew for a second year. The term will run from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, and if renewed, will continue through Dec. 31, 2026.

Applicants must be at least 25 years old and have a body of work published in journals, chapbooks, or full-length collections, or have a history of public poetry performances. Full eligibility requirements are available on the Arts Council’s website.

An advisory committee composed of professional poets, arts administrators, educators and county representatives will evaluate submissions and recommend a poet laureate to the county executive, who will then make the final decision, pending confirmation by the County Legislature.

For more information and to apply, visit the Arts Council of Rockland’s website: https://www.artscouncilofrockland.org/rockland-county-poet-laureate. Those interested also can contact Dorothy Atzl at dorothy@artscouncilofrockland.org.

Robert Brum is a freelance journalist who writes about the Hudson Valley. Contact him and read his work at robertbrum.com.