Applications Open for Maine’s Next Poet Laureate as Bouwsma’s Term Ends

Maine is set to welcome a new poet laureate as current holder, Julia Bouwsma, approaches the end of her five-year term in June 2026. Applications for her successor are now open, inviting poets from across the state to submit their work and vision for the role.

Bouwsma, who has served since her appointment by Governor Janet Mills in 2021, initially hesitated to apply for the position. At 41, she considered it a role for more seasoned writers. Encouraged by peers, she decided to submit her application without expectations, viewing it as a valuable experience for the future. “I thought, ‘This will be fun. It’ll be great practice for 20 years from now when it is the right time,'” Bouwsma recalled.

Her tenure has been marked by a commitment to promoting poetry across Maine. As part of her role, she set a personal goal to visit all 16 counties within her term, with only Washington County remaining before she completes her mission. “I really wanted to think about poetry as something connective across our whole state,” she explained. “Using poetry to have difficult conversations with each other is important.”

The poet laureate serves not only as a representative of the art form but also as an ambassador, fostering a greater appreciation for poetry statewide. The responsibilities include leading projects that engage the community and inspire new voices. Previous laureate, Stuart Kestenbaum, initiated “Poems from Here,” a series of radio broadcasts featuring Maine poets, while Bouwsma launched “Write Me,” an epistolary poetry project that connected over 300 participants as “poetry pen pals” during the isolation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Director of the Maine Arts Commission, Amy Hausmann, highlighted the importance of creativity in building connections, stating, “To be able to be seen, to be able to be heard, to be able to share is one of the ways that people feel better about themselves and their place in the world. Poetry can do that.”

Applications for the next poet laureate must come from full-time Maine residents with a “distinguished body of poetic work.” Submissions should include eight to ten pages of poetry and a one-page statement outlining the applicant’s vision for the role. The Maine Arts Commission now provides a stipend of $5,000 per year for five years for the poet laureate, which replaces the previous unpaid structure that offered mileage reimbursement.

The selection process involves a committee that will review the applications and make recommendations to the governor for the final appointment. Applications will be accepted until December 5, 2023. For more information on how to apply, interested individuals can visit the Maine Arts Commission’s official website at mainearts.maine.gov.

The position of poet laureate in Maine has a rich history, with Julia Bouwsma being the sixth individual to hold this influential role since its inception in 1995. Previous laureates include Kate Barnes, Baron Wormser, Betsy Sholl, and Wesley McNair. As Maine continues to celebrate its literary talent, the search for the next poet laureate promises to highlight the diverse voices contributing to the state’s cultural landscape.