CADDO PARISH POET LAUREATE 2025–2028
The Parish of Caddo seeks an exceptional poet to serve a three-year term (April 2025 – March 2028) as its Poet Laureate. Responsibilities include writing commemorative works, and presenting at Commission meetings and events, including the annual ArtBreak Festival.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, March 09, 2025, at 11:59pm - before MIDNIGHT.
Recognizing the Arts as essential to life in Caddo Parish, and poetry as a unique form of expression, analysis, and interpretation, the Parish of Caddo seeks to engage an outstanding poet to serve as Poet Laureate. The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC), a catalyst for participation, education, development, and the promotion of artistic excellence, will administer the selection process. SRAC supports established and emerging arts organizations, as well as individual artists, who are the lifeblood of the arts. Poets may apply or be nominated for the position; both require a complete application, as detailed below.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
- Applications will be accepted exclusively through Submittable. (https://srac.submittable.com).
- The application deadline is Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Late, incomplete, handwritten, hand-delivered, faxed, emailed, or mailed applications will not be accepted.
- Applicants must provide all requested information, including birth date and Caddo Parish residency details (eligibility requirements).
- Review and update your Culturalyst profile (https://nwla.culturalyst.com) with your Artist Resume (complete report of your work as an Artist, including education, publications, exhibitions, presentations, papers, awards, and honors), Artist Statement (informing about your work, philosophy, approach, content, subject matter, and technical approach), and at least 10 samples of your recent, high-quality poetry (50% or more created in the last 5 years, no more than one poem per page, correctly labeled with title, length, and publication date).
- Prepare a short statement (250 words maximum) explaining how you perceive the Poet Laureate position as a culmination of your career and how you would use the position to foster a love for poetry in Caddo Parish.
- Provide up to three letters of reference supporting your candidacy.
- Work samples (at least 10) must be uploaded to Culturalyst. No more than one poem per page. The samples must be correctly labeled, and the SAMPLES OF WORK page must be completed. Provide the title, length of the complete work, and date of publication.
- Optional: Submit up to three supplemental documentary materials (photographs, press clippings, promotional materials, letters of recommendation, etc.) evidencing the dissemination of your work. These should be uploaded with your online application.
- Please note that information regarding race/ethnicity and special characteristics is collected for statistical analysis and reporting purposes only and will not be considered in the selection process.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Applicants must be poets currently residing in Caddo Parish for a minimum of two years.
- Applicants must be registered on the free Culturalyst Directory (https://nwla.culturalyst.com).
- The Caddo Parish Poet Laureate must maintain the same standards as required by the State of Louisiana:
The selected individual shall have poetry that has been published in books, anthologies, literary journals, or magazines, and may not currently hold the position of Caddo Parish Poet Laureate.
- The selection process will be conducted by a jury composed of a Louisiana State Poet Laureate (either current or past Laureate) and the Caddo Parish Commission, reviewing submissions based on publication history, artistic merit, and reflection of Caddo Parish's diverse cultures.
- Please note that the resume, Artist’s statement, and optional materials are viewed only after the jury has reviewed the samples of work, therefore prioritizing artistic merit and maintaining objectivity.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CADDO PARISH POET LAUREATE:
- The Caddo Parish Poet Laureate will serve a three-year term (April 2025 – March 2028) and represent the Caddo Parish Commission, reflecting the Artistic talent of the Parish and the achievements of the Commission. The selected Poet Laureate may not serve two consecutive terms.
- Responsibilities, coordinated by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the Parish of Caddo staff, may include:
- Write at least one new work per year, commemorating a Caddo Parish Commission achievement or issue.
- Present poetry readings at Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
- Present poetry readings at important Caddo Parish Commission celebratory events.
- Present student-appropriate poetry readings at the ArtBreak Festival.
- Honorarium: The Caddo Parish Poet Laureate will receive an annual honorarium of $1,500 from the Caddo Parish Commission for the requested services.
- Additional Fees: The Caddo Parish Poet Laureate may receive compensation for speaking engagements, workshops, and other activities from other entities.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
The 2025-2028 Caddo Parish Poet Laureate will be announced in April 2025, during National Poetry Month.
QUESTIONS:
For further information, please contact Wren Coker at (318) 673-6500 or wren@shrevearts.org. For assistance or clarification during the application process, appointments with Wren are available between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, either in-person or by phone. Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the application process well in advance of the March 9th deadline, as availability for assistance may be limited closer to the deadline.
SRAC encourages professional artists residing in or occupying a studio in the City of Shreveport to apply for a $1,000 grant to serve as “Art Ambassadors,” representing the City of Shreveport by taking their art outside the City. Non-matching grants of up to $1,000 are available to assist artists who have been juried or invited to present their art outside of Northwest Louisiana.
Funds are to be used to assist Artists with all related travel expenses, to include personal travel costs as well as shipping and insurance costs for exhibitions. Art Ambassador funds are designed to promote Shreveport’s artistic strengths by highlighting Shreveport artists. Applicants must provide evidence of selection through a jury process and an invitation. Art Ambassador grants are non-matching.
All applicants must have an active the Culturalyst Northwest Louisiana Artist Directory page at the time of submission. The Directory is located on the Shreveport Regional Arts Council Website at: https://nwla.culturalyst.com/. For assistance in registering your profile on the website please email karen@shrevearts.org
Click Here for complete Grant Guidelines
SRAC encourages professional artists residing in or occupying a studio in the City of Shreveport to apply for a $1,000 grant to serve as “Art Ambassadors,” representing the City of Shreveport by taking their art outside the City. Non-matching grants of up to $1,000 are available to assist artists who have been juried or invited to present their art outside of Northwest Louisiana.
Funds are to be used to assist Artists with all related travel expenses, to include personal travel costs as well as shipping and insurance costs for exhibitions. Art Ambassador funds are designed to promote Shreveport’s artistic strengths by highlighting Shreveport artists. Applicants must provide evidence of selection through a jury process and an invitation. Art Ambassador grants are non-matching.
All applicants must have an active the Culturalyst Northwest Louisiana Artist Directory page at the time of submission. The Directory is located on the Shreveport Regional Arts Council Website at: https://nwla.culturalyst.com/. For assistance in registering your profile on the website please email karen@shrevearts.org
Click Here for complete Grant Guidelines
2024-2025 CITY OF SHREVEPORT REGRANT
ARTIST Registration Fee Reimbursement GUIDELINES
Application available in
Submittable
INSTRUCTIONS:
SRAC encourages professional artists residing in NWLA to apply for Artist Call Entry Fee Reimbursement. This is for artist calls outside of the NWLA area. Reimbursement is allowed for up to $100 per year. Receipts must be turned at the time of application for reimbursement.
ELIGIBILITY:
All applicants must have an active profile on the Culturalyst Northwest Louisiana Artist Directory page at the time of submission. The Directory is located on the Shreveport Regional Arts Council Website at: https://nwla.culturalyst.com/. For assistance in registering your profile on the website please email karen@shrevearts.org
Application Deadline is revolving.