Fredericton, NB – The City of Fredericton is now accepting submissions for the newly created position of Cultural Laureate, a program emerging from the Culture Plan adopted by City Council in 2014.
The Cultural Laureate position aims to highlight and celebrate the city’s history while championing the current social, cultural and economic makeup. The successful applicant will be a resident of Fredericton and act as the artistic voice of the city, connecting with a broad audience through public appearances and outreach activities.
The inaugural Cultural Laureate will focus on the written form, specifically poetry, and will work to support and raise the profile of Fredericton’s literary arts community.
“The Cultural Laureate will be a great addition to the City’s cultural scene and helps fulfill one of the goals of the Culture Plan, which is to ‘integrate art in everyday life’,” said Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside. “It is fitting that Fredericton’s First Cultural Laureate will reference our strong literary heritage as ‘The Poet’s Corner of Canada’.”
During their term the Laureate will compose and present poems for official City of Fredericton events, present a least once a year to City Council during National Poetry Month, and work with the Fredericton Public Library to deliver a series of youth and adult programs. Some of the civic events where readings will take place include the annual tree lighting ceremony, Canada Day, the annual student welcome event in September, and other events that may arise.
The program was developed by a steering committee made up of members of the City’s Arts & Culture Advisory Committee and staff of the Fredericton Public Library who will be a partner in the program delivery.
The Cultural Laureate will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2016 and will be paid $2,500 annually. As part of the process applicants are asked to submit samples of professionally published works; demonstrate that they have made a significant contribution to the literary arts in the Fredericton; and be a current resident of the city. Complete application details are available online: www.fredericton.ca . The deadline for applications is December 30, 2015. For more information, email: culture@fredericton.ca, or call (506) 460-2411.
