Learn More About Becoming The City Of Birmingham's Poet Laureate At Bards & Brews, Friday, August 4

After taking July off, Bards & Brews returns the first Friday of August with an Open Mic and special guest Viola Ratcliffe, who will share more information about becoming the City of Birmingham's first Poet Laureate. Good People Brewing Company is providing the beers!

This open mic will be at the Central Library on Friday, August 4, starting at 6:30 p.m. The City of Birmingham is seeking its first poet laureate to be an ambassador of poetry for the city. Applications open Tuesday, August 1, and submissions will be due on Monday, October 2. 

• What: Bards & Brews August Open Mic
• When: Friday, August 4, 2023 | Starts at 6:30 p.m.
• Where: Central Library | 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Details: Everyone is welcome to take the stage at Bards & Brews Open Mic. This program is free and open to the public. Guests must be 18+ to attend and 21+ to drink with proof of I.D. Viola Ratcliffe from Create Birmingham will be available to share information about the City of Birmingham's Poet Laureate application. Bards & Brews is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Good People Brewing Company is providing beers that night. Located downtown across from Regions Field, Good People Brewing Company creates an inviting atmosphere to sample unique beers with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Dogs are welcome, too! Stop by to get their Funk Farm barrel aged sour beers that you can only get in their taproom, or their resident food truck, Hotbox, serving inventive takes on handheld classics at their brewery Wednesday through Sunday. 

Create Birmingham, in partnership with the City of Birmingham, is launching the 2024–2025 City of Birmingham Poet Laureate initiative! Birmingham is one of two Alabama cities selected by the Alabama State Council on the Arts to enact an inaugural City Poet Laureate program, the other city being Mobile. 

This is an honorary position and roles and responsibilities include making local appearances, leading public and educational programs, creating poetry, and building advocacy and community through poetry.

The poet laureate will receive an honorarium of $5,000. Additional funds will be available for materials and other approved program costs associated with programs that the poet laureate leads. 

To apply, applicants must be:

• 18+ years of age
• Reside in the City of Birmingham at the time of application and for the duration of the appointment
• Demonstrate a track record of public presentation of original poetry, including in-person and/or online events and via websites and/or social media
• Have the capacity and availability to attend periodic public events over the two-year term

Here are key dates to know for the City of Birmingham Poet Laureate initiative:

• Tuesday, August 1, 2023: Application portal opens
• Friday, September 29, 2023: Final day to submit application questions by 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 2, 2023: Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m.
• November 2023: Finalist interviews take place.
• December 2023: Poet Laureate is selected and announced.
• January 2024: Poet Laureate officiation and the start of a two-year term

The Poet Laureate's term will run from Monday, January 1, 2024, through Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

You can find more details about the application and qualifications on their website.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts and The Birmingham City Council's Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Committee are funding this initiative. 

Follow Bards & Brews on Facebook and the BPL on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more Bards & Brews updates. 

By Cheyenne Trujillo | Library Assistant Ⅲ, Public Relations