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.
The current Poet Laureate is Arianne True. Past poets laureate include Rena Priest (2021-2023), 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.
About Arianne True
A member of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, Arianne has dedicated years to teaching and mentoring young poets around the Salish Sea. She has received fellowships from Jack Straw Cultural Arts, Hugo House, and Artist Trust; is an alum of Hedgebrook and the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts; and was recently the Seattle Repertory Theater’s first Native Artist-in-Residence. During her tenure, she hopes to create an anthology of poetry from queer people in both urban and rural areas throughout the state.
Follow the poet laureate on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Contact the Poet Laureate
To book Arianne for a reading, school visit, or other event, choose an option below (note that she has limited availability for in-person events May-June 2023 due to prior teaching commitments):
Apply to host an in-person event
For press inquiries, click here.
The Poet Laureate program is run in partnership with:
Additional support for the Poet Laureate program provided by the Amazon Literary Partnership Poetry Fund and the Academy of American Poets.
Upcoming In-Person Events
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Reading, featuring Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True
In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, celebrate poetry created and performed by Native poets. Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True will begin the event with a reading, followed by an […]
- When
- 5:30 pm, Monday
October 9, 2023 - Where
- ʔaʔkʷustəŋáw̕txʷ House of Learning
1502 E Lauridsen Blvd
Port Angeles, WA 98362 United States
Gathering of Regional Poets, featuring Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True at BookTree Kirkland for a Gathering of Regional Poets. In addition to True’s reading, this event will feature a panel of regional poets […]
- When
- 4:00 pm, Saturday
October 14, 2023 - Where
- BookTree Kirkland
609 Market St
Kirkland, WA 98033 United States
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True for a reading at “Art and Ecology in a time of Global Warming,” a symposium organized by the University of Puget Sound. This […]
- When
- 5:00 pm, Friday
November 3, 2023 - Where
- Kittredge Gallery
1500 N Warner St
Tacoma, WA 98416 United States
Event with the Washington State Poet Laureate
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True for a reading at Open Book: A Festival for Readers. This is a day-long event for the people of Whatcom County to celebrate […]
- When
- 12:00 pm, Sunday
November 5, 2023 - Where
- Ferndale Events Center
5715 Barrett Rd
Ferndale, WA 98248 United States
Monthly Speaker Series featuring Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True for a reading at a monthly speaker series sponsored by the Marysville Parks, Culture, and Recreation Department and Sno-Isle Libraries. In this series, […]
- When
- 6:00 pm, Tuesday
November 14, 2023 - Where
- Marysville Opera House
1225 3rd St
Marysville, WA 98270 United States