FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 29, 2018
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tessa Terry
402-471-4002
800-307-2665
Nebraska State Poet
Nominations Due August 1
The Nebraska Library Commission, the Nebraska Arts Council,
and Humanities Nebraska are seeking nominations for the next
Nebraska State Poet. This designation recognizes and honors a
Nebraska poet of exceptional talent and accomplishment.
Nominations must be submitted no later than midnight, CST, on
August 1, 2018.
Nominations may be made by any organization or individual in
the state of Nebraska. To be considered, nominees must consent
to the nomination. All nominations will be reviewed by the State
Poet Selection Committee, which is made up of five individuals
who are established members of Nebraska's literary, cultural,
and academic communities. After the committee selects finalists,
the governor will make the final selection.
State Poet nominations will be collected and reviewed online
only. The first step is to contact Humanities Nebraska at
info@humanitiesnebraska.org to verify the poet in question
has not been nominated already. The remainder of the application
is completed using the
Nebraska
Arts Council’s SlideRoom online application site. The site
includes complete instructions for submitting application
materials.
The Nebraska State Poet will be chosen based on artistic
excellence, exemplary professionalism demonstrated by
significant publications and special honors, an established
history of community service in the advancement of poetry in
Nebraska, and the ability to present poetry and interact
effectively with a public audience. In addition, the State Poet
must be a legal, full-time resident for at least three years
prior to the application deadline and must maintain Nebraska
residence during his or her full term of office.
Once selected, the Nebraska State Poet will serve a five-year
renewable term as an advocate for poetry, literacy, and
literature in Nebraska. Duties include giving public
presentations and readings, leading workshops and discussions,
and providing other outreach in schools, libraries, literary
festivals, and various venues in rural and urban communities
throughout the state. To accomplish this, the State Poet will
join the Nebraska Arts Council’s Nebraska Touring Program and
the Humanities Nebraska Speakers Bureau.
The position of Nebraska Poet Laureate was established in
1921 when John G. Neihardt was appointed by the Legislature. In
1982, William Kloefkorn was appointed Nebraska State Poet by
Governor Charles Thone. Kloefkorn served as State Poet for more
than 25 years, until his death in May 2011. In January 2013,
Governor Dave Heineman installed Twyla M. Hansen as Nebraska
State Poet. Her service to the state concludes at the end of
2018.
For more information about the Nebraska State Poet selection
process, visit the Humanities Nebraska website at
www.humanitiesnebraska.org and click on the rotating banner
marked Nebraska State Poet.
As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska
Library Commission is an advocate for the library and
information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library
Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination
of library and information services—“bringing together people
and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library
Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website,
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.