California Arts Council Announces Open Call for Applications to Name First-Ever California Teen Poet Laureate

SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Arts Council (CAC) announced today that the application process is now open for the state's first California Teen Poet Laureate. The role offers young adult word artists within our state the unique opportunity to promote literary arts and engage with diverse communities throughout California. All eligible teenaged poets are encouraged to apply.

This new position, established through Senate Bill 748, authored by Senator Henry Stern and signed into law in 2019, will serve as an advocate for poetry throughout the Golden State.

"We are so excited to launch this initiative and to amplify a voice from California's young generation today that will shape our state tomorrow," said California Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Brazell. "The teen poet laureate will have the ability to share their lived experience and bring their creativity to other young Californians. Our hope is to nurture future arts and cultural leaders and inspire more diverse voices and perspectives of young Californians to be heard and celebrated."

"I've been inspired by many of the young voices I've had a chance to hear from during my tenure," said California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick. "Our collective dreaming for the future of this state would be incomplete without their voices at the table. I look forward to working with the inaugural teen poet laureate."

The California Teen Poet Laureate will be responsible for providing a minimum of six public readings during their two-year term. In collaboration with the California Poet Laureate, they will be required to develop and undertake a specific poetry project intended to bring the literary arts to Californians, particularly students with limited exposure to poetry. The teen poet laureate will receive an annual stipend of $10,000 for their work in these endeavors.

The teen poet laureate will have multiple further opportunities to collaborate with the California Poet Laureate, as well as participate in California Poetry Out Loud activities and other CAC events.

How to Apply

To be considered for the position of teen poet laureate, applicants must be California residents between the ages of 13 and 19.

Interested teen poets must submit their applications online at capoetlaureate.org. Only complete submissions will be accepted.

Required materials to be submitted include a letter of application, biography, résumé, a parent or guardian permission form, and original works.

The CAC administers the California Teen Poet Laureate application submission and review process for the Governor's Office, in accordance with the law. Applications will undergo a confidential review process by a panel of youth and literary arts champions. Finalists will be submitted to the Governor's Office, and the governor will make the final appointment decision.

For further information, including instructions on how to submit your application, visit capoetlaureate.org. The application deadline is November 30, 2025.

Questions about the application and review process should be directed to [email protected].

Media inquiries only:Kimberly BrownPublic Affairs [email protected]

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The California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. It supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, initiatives, and services. The California Arts Council envisions a California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts.

Members of the California Arts Council include: Roxanne Messina Captor, Chair; Leah Goodwin, Vice Chair; Gerald Clarke; Caleb Duarte; Vicki Estrada; Roy Hirabayashi; Alex Israel; Dorka Keehn; Phil Mercado; Nicola Miner; Rick Stein. Learn more at https://www.arts.ca.gov.

The California Arts Council is committed to increasing the accessibility of its online content. For language and accessibility assistance, visit https://arts.ca.gov/about/about-us/language-communications-assistance. To read this announcement in Spanish, please use the website's Google Translate tool by clicking the "Translate" link in the upper righthand corner of this page.

El Consejo de las Artes de California se compromete a aumentar la accesibilidad de sus contenidos en línea. Para obtener ayuda con el idioma y la accesibilidad, visite https://arts.ca.gov/about/about-us/language-communications-assistance. Para leer este anuncio en español, utilice la herramienta Google Translate del sitio web haciendo clic en el enlace "Traducir" situado en la esquina superior derecha de esta página.