Commission On The Arts Seeks

Nominations For State Poet Laureate

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Commission on the Arts is seeking applications from the public for State Poet Laureate, an honorary position created by the Connecticut General Assembly. The appointment, to be made at the end of June, will be for a five-year term.

This will be the third appointment to the position. The state’s first Poet Laureate was Pulitzer Prize winner James Merrill. The second poet to assume the title was Leo Connellan, who served until his death this past February, two months before his term was to expire.

Although no specific duties are required of the position, Mr Connellan was an active Poet Laureate, conducting workshops with young writers at schools and universities and passionately encouraging the art of poetry among residents across the state.

Nominees for Poet Laureate should be long-term Connecticut residents with an outstanding and distinguished career in poetry and a substantial publication history. Nominations should include:

*The name, address and telephone number of the poet being nominated;

*A letter explaining why the nominee should be considered for the position; and

*A biographical statement or résumé including a list of published works and honors awarded.

Nominations must be received at the Commission on the Arts offices no later than Friday, May 18, 2001. A panel of professional peers will review all nominations. The number of nomination letters received for any one candidate is not a factor in selection; final determination will be based on professional accomplishments.

Nominations may be mailed, faxed or delivered to Connecticut Commission on the Arts, One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103, or FAXed to 860-566-6462. For more information, call the commission at 860-566-4770.

CCA is the state agency responsible for developing and strengthening cultural resources, and increasing public participation in and support for the arts. Funded by the Connecticut Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, the commission strategically invests in a growing non-profit arts sector that has an annual economic impact exceeding $1.5 billion.