City of West Hollywood Seeks Applicants for West Hollywood Drag Laureate and West Hollywood City Poet Laureate

The City of West is now accepting applications for two of the City's signature cultural ambassador roles: the West Hollywood City Poet Laureate and the West Hollywood Drag Laureate. These prestigious positions celebrate the City's commitment to artistic excellence, cultural equity, and creative expression.

Applications for the West Hollywood Drag Laureate are due Wednesday, May 6, 2026, by 5 p.m. (PT). Applications for the West Hollywood City Poet Laureate are due Wednesday, May 13, 2026, by 5 p.m. (PT). Full application details and submission guidelines are available on the City's Artist Opportunities webpage.

The selected Drag Laureate and City Poet Laureate will each serve as ambassadors for West Hollywood's dynamic arts community, engaging residents and visitors through public programming, performances, and community partnerships. Both positions will serve three-year terms beginning in 2026 and concluding in 2029, receiving an annual honoraria during each calendar year.

The West Hollywood Drag Laureate will serve as an ambassador for the City, enhance the presence and appreciate of drag culture, promote partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, and inspire an emerging generation of drag artists.

Professional drag performers (kings and queens) living in the Los Angeles County region with strong ties to West Hollywood are encouraged to apply. Candidates should demonstrate a deep knowledge of drag history, strong public-speaking skills, and experience producing events and performances for diverse audiences. The drag artist selected for this distinction will hold the position from July 2026 to June 2029. This term will immediately follow the three-year term served bycurrent West Hollywood Drag Laureate Pickle (2023-2026). The application for qualifications is available here.

The West Hollywood City Poet Laureate will serve as the City's literary ambassador, promoting poetry and literary arts through writing workshops, readings, and community engagement. The City Poet Laureate will contribute to the City's annual National Poetry Month celebration, read poetry at community events, and create an annual original poem celebrating West Hollywood. The City Poet Laureate program was founded in 2014, is well regarded nationally, and all of the City's eligible City Poet Laureates have been accepted into the highly competitive Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship program.

Qualified poets with a strong record of artistic achievement, community engagement, and a meaningful connection to West Hollywood are encouraged to apply. Candidates should demonstrate excellence in their craft, public engagement experience, and a passion for community-based arts programming. The poet selected for this distinction will hold the position from October 2026 to October 2029. This term will immediately follow the three-year term served by the fifth and current West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng (2023-2026). The application for self-nominations is available here.

Both laureate programs reflect the City of West Hollywood's longstanding commitment to supporting artists and advancing inclusive cultural initiatives. Through these roles, the City continues to uplift voices that shape and reflect its unique identity.

The City of West Hollywood's Arts Division delivers a broad array of arts programs including Art on the Outside, Arts Grants, City Poet Laureate, Drag Laureate, Free Theatre in the Parks, Library Exhibits and Programming, Summer Sounds + Winter Sounds, Urban Art, the WeHo Pride Arts Festival, and WeHo Reads.

For more information about the Drag Laureate program, contact Rebecca Ehemann, Arts Manager, at (323) 848-6846 or [email protected]. For more information about the City Poet Laureate program, contact Mike Che, Arts Coordinator, at (323) 848-6377 or [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000. Read feature articles about people, places, and City events at www.helloweho.com. City Hall programs and services information is available at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].