Program Overview
The Washington State Poet Laureate serves to build awareness and appreciation of poetry — including the state’s legacy of poetry — through public readings, workshops, lectures, and presentations in geographically diverse areas of the state. The appointed poet laureate serves a two-year term.
In April 2007, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that recognized the value of poetry to the culture and heritage of the state by establishing the Washington State Poet Laureate. The poet laureate program is funded and run by Humanities Washington and ArtsWA, with the support of Gov. Jay Inslee. Poets can either self-nominate or be nominated by a third party every two years through an application process.
About Rena Priest
Rena Priest became the sixth Washington State Poet Laureate on April 14, 2021, and her term will run until March 31, 2023.
Priest’s literary debut, Patriarchy Blues, was honored with the 2018 American Book Award, and her most recent work is Sublime Subliminal. A member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, she is the first Indigenous poet to assume the role. She succeeds poets Claudia Castro Luna (2018-2021), Tod Marshall (2016-2018), Elizabeth Austen (2014-2016), Kathleen Flenniken (2012–2014), and Sam Green (2007–2009). Learn more about past laureates here.
Priest’s work can be found in Poetry Northwest, Pontoon Poetry, Verse Daily, Poem-a-Day at Poets.org, and elsewhere. She has taught Comparative Cultural Studies and Contemporary American Issues at Western Washington University and Native American Literature at Northwest Indian College. Priest holds a BA in English from Western Washington University and an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in Bellingham, Washington.
Each laureate puts their own unique focus on the position, and Priest focuses on two primary goals during her term: celebrating poetry in Washington’s tribal communities, and using poetry to increase appreciation of the natural world and the threats facing it.
Read Priest’s blog at wapoetlaureate.org, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
In summer 2022, you can submit a poem to a new poetry anthology Rena is creating dedicated to salmon. Click here for more information.
Contact Rena
Apply below to bring the poet laureate to an ONLINE community event:
Apply below to bring the poet laureate to an IN-PERSON community event:
Apply to host an in-person event
To ask the laureate to send a prerecorded video message to your event, click here.
For press inquiries, click here.
The Poet Laureate program is run in partnership with:
Additional support for the Poet Laureate program provided by:
Upcoming In-Person Events
After a brief business meeting of the Community Land Trust of Waldron Island, Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest will speak and read her poetry. The mission of the Community Land Trust of Waldron Island is to be a resource for and provide access to affordable homes and land for low-income Waldron residents while cultivating […]
- When
- 3:00 pm, Sunday
August 21, 2022 - Where
- The Commons
No street addresses on Waldron
Waldron, WA 98297 United States
Laureates in Lacey featuring Washington State Poet Laureat Rena Priest
This special Olympia Poetry Network event features three poets laureate: Rena Priest, the current Washington State Poet Laureate, Ashly Mcbunch, Olympia‘s poet laureate, and Lacey‘s poet laureate, Cynthia Pratt. The reading, co-sponsored by Humanities Washington, the Washington State Arts Commission, and Saint Martin‘s University, will take place in Harned Hall, Room 110. This live-only event […]
- When
- 5:00 pm, Wednesday
August 24, 2022 - Where
- Saint Martin’s University
5000 Abbey Way SE
Lacey, WA 98503 United States
Reading & Workshop: Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest
This event is free and open to all. Please welcome Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest to the Historic Lincoln Theatre! On Saturday, September 3, Priest will be reading a selection of her works, followed by a generative poetry workshop with audience participation (please consider bringing your own notebook and writing utensil to this event). […]
- When
- 7:30 pm, Saturday
September 3, 2022 - Where
- Lincoln Theatre
712 S 1st St
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 United States
Upcoming Online Events
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Rena Priest is the current Washington State Poet Laureate. A member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, she is the author of Patriarchy Blues, which was honored with the 2018 American Book Award, and the recent Sublime Subliminal. The Poet Laureate program is sponsored by Humanities Washington and The Washington State Arts Commission/ArtsWA, with the support […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Thursday
October 20, 2022 - Register
- Click here to register
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Rena Priest is the current Washington State Poet Laureate. A member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, she is the author of Patriarchy Blues, which was honored with the 2018 American Book Award, and the recent Sublime Subliminal. The Poet Laureate program is sponsored by Humanities Washington and The Washington State Arts Commission/ArtsWA, with the support […]
- When
- 5:30 pm, Saturday
November 12, 2022 - Register
- Click here to register