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 is sponsored by Humanities Washington and ArtsWA, with the support of Gov. Jay Inslee. The position is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities Washington. Poets can self-nominate every two years through an application process.
Additional support for the Poet Laureate program provided by:
About Claudia Castro Luna
The current poet laureate is Claudia Castro Luna, who assumed the role February 1, 2018.
Castro Luna fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States at the age of 14 with her family, and went on to earn an MFA in poetry and an MA in urban planning. After working as a K-12 teacher, she became Seattle’s first Civic Poet, a position appointed by the mayor. In that position, Castro Luna won acclaim for her Seattle Poetic Grid, an online interactive map showcasing poems about different locations around the city. The grid landed her an interview on PBS NewsHour. She is the author of the poetry chapbook This City and the collection Killing Marías. She succeeds poets Tod Marshall (2016-2018), Elizabeth Austen (2014-2016), Kathleen Flenniken (2012–2014), and Sam Green (2007–2009). Learn more about past laureates here.
Read Castro Luna’s blog at wapoetlaureate.org, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter. To get in touch with Castro Luna or book her for a workshop or presentation, email poet@humanities.org.
Upcoming Events
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna as she builds 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. Castro Luna fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States at the age of 14 with her […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Monday
April 22, 2019 - Where
- Montvale Event Center, Montvale Hall
1017 W 1st Ave
Spokane, WA 99201 United States
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna as she builds 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. Castro Luna fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States at the age of 14 with her […]
- When
- 7:00 pm, Tuesday
April 23, 2019 - Where
- Spark Central
1214 W Summit Pkwy
Spokane, WA 99201 United States
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna as she builds 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. Castro Luna fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States at the age of 14 with her […]
- When
- 2:00 pm, Wednesday
April 24, 2019 - Where
- EWU JFK Library, JFK Auditorium
526 5th St
Cheney, WA 99004 United States
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna as she builds 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. Castro Luna fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States at the age of 14 with her […]
- When
- 6:30 pm, Wednesday
April 24, 2019 - Where
- EWU JFK Library, JFK Auditorium
526 5th St
Cheney, WA 99004 United States
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna as she builds 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. Castro Luna fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States at the age of 14 with her […]
- When
- 9:00 pm, Saturday
April 27, 2019 - Where
- Spokane Downtown Public Library, Third Floor
906 W Main Ave
Spokane, WA 99201 United States