The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council Announces Call for New Poet Laureate
March 3, 2023–Largo, MD––The Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) is seeking applications for the next Prince George’s County Poet Laureate. This significant cultural position supports Prince George’s County’s ever-burgeoning literary community and reflects the county’s commitment to elevating poetry into the consciousness of residents and to helping celebrate the literary arts. The selected poet will endeavor to advance the awareness of, access to, and appreciation for poetry, spoken word, and the literary arts within the Prince George’s County community through PGAHC’s Office of Poet Laureate.
As both a resident of Prince George’s County and ambassador and advocate for poetry, spoken word, literature, culture, and the arts, the Poet Laureate will represent the County and the art of poetry through public readings, workshops, lectures, presentations, and participation in civic events. Additionally, the Poet Laureate will serve as a resource for the County’s poetry and literary activities, lead and participate in National Poetry Month and National Arts and Humanities Month events and initiatives, and contribute to the growth of a poetic identity for Prince George’s County. Specifically, it is expected that the Poet Laureate will propose and lead at least 4 (one per quarter) community projects each year, with an ongoing community presence, engagement, and participation in community arts events to take place throughout each of the 9 Councilmanic Districts throughout the year. The Poet Laureate also works with the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System to offer public programming.
J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford was appointed as the inaugural Prince George’s County Poet Laureate. She is an author, arts advocate, as well as the producer and host of the award-winning poetry-based cable television show, Sojourn with Words. Sistah Joy also received the Poet Laureate Special Award (2002) for “her outstanding contributions to the art of poetry” in her native Washington, DC. She is an alum of the late Washington, DC Poet Laureate’s “Poets in Progress” series and of the Mariposa Writers Retreat. In 1995, she founded the socially conscious poetry ensemble, Collective Voices, which has performed nationally and internationally (London, England) and continues to perform in the U.S. primarily along the East coast. Sistah Joy is the author of three books, Lord I’m Dancin’ As Fast As I Can (2000); From Pain to Empowerment, The Fabric of My Being (2009); and This Garden Called Life (2011). Her term concludes in April 2023. “It’s been an honor to serve as Prince George’s County’s inaugural Poet Laureate. County residents and businesses – both arts-related and not, have demonstrated not only interest and appreciation, but a thirst for the literary arts. It has been personally rewarding to help facilitate opportunities for poets, writers, and artists of multiple disciplines as they collaborate in beautiful and enriching ways to embrace the arts programs and opportunities presented by the Office of the Poet Laureate," said Sistah Joy. "I look forward to continuing to support future programs that create a vibrant poetry and literary arts culture in Prince George’s County.”
The county’s Poet Laureate is an honorary position established in 2018. The individual selected will serve a three-year term commencing in May 2023, for which they will receive an honorarium to encompass all official work performed in the position. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 2023. For more information about the application and selection process, visit www.pgahc.org/poet-laureate.
“On behalf of PGAHC, we express our deep gratitude for all that Sistah Joy has done to advance poetry and literary arts throughout the county. She has elevated the poetry landscape in the community, and we are forever grateful for her impact,” said PGAHC’s CEO and Chief Curator Rhonda Dallas. “We are excited to expand her efforts and to partner with the new Poet Laureate to continue to elevate literary arts within our community and facilitate connection through accessible, dynamic, and influential programming.”
About the Office of the Poet Laureate
The mission of the Office of the Poet Laureate is to highlight literary arts and culture by promoting a countywide appreciation of poetry through engaging programs and services for county residents of all ages, a vibrant and interactive series of community activities, and a focus on initiatives which support and sustain the cultural life of Prince George's county.
About PGAHC
As the legislated local arts agency for Prince George’s County, PGAHC fosters and expands art opportunities for all County citizens and visitors to create a world-class cultural environment where high-quality arts and humanities programs are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. PGAHC leverages its partnerships to support and provide various arts and cultural programming opportunities, art-centered economic development programs, grants as well as advocacy initiatives for legislative support of the arts on the County and State levels.