ArtsWA Community Investments

Washington State Poet Laureate: 2027 - 2029 Term

The Washington State Poet Laureate program, a collaboration between The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) and Humanities WA, is accepting indications of interest for the 2025-27 Washington State Poet Laureate position.  

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 culturally and geographically diverse communities across the state.  

Washington State Poets Laureate represent some of the best and most generous of Washington poets. The duties of the Laureate require public interaction, travel, and a willingness to undertake a project of the Laureate’s choosing during their two-year term. Past Laureates report that they grow in unique and significant ways as artists, advance their careers, and immensely appreciate the opportunity to meet new people and learn about the entire state. 

Overview 

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 Washington State Governor appoints the Laureate based on recommendations from a geographically and culturally diverse panel of representatives from Washington’s arts, humanities and literary communities. 

Once appointed, ArtsWA and Humanities Washington provide funding for the honorarium ($40,000 annually), travel and project expenses ($6,500), as well as administrative support for the Laureate. Humanities Washington also provides grantwriting support for funding opportunities that could increase the Laureate’s reach and impact, including application for the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships.

The Laureate serves a two-year term, renewable in rare circumstances.  

The 2027-2029 Laureate’s term begins May 1, 2027. 

Click here to learn more about the Washington State Poet Laureate program. 

Deadline 

Deadline for interest forms is 11:59p.m. PST, Thursday, October 15th, 2026. We recommend submitting early so that you have time to reach out if you run into any technical issues.  

*NEW: Two-Stage Selection Process

The selection process will be divided into two stages for the 2027-2029 selection process: 

• Stage 1 – Indication of Interest: Applicant provides CV, work samples, and answers one narrative question. 
• Stage 2 – Invitation to Apply: 5-10 candidates will be invited to submit an application that includes eight narrative questions and references’ contact information. 

Important Dates 

• Stage 1 – Indication of Interest Opens: September 1, 2026 
• Info Sessions: September 15, 2026 | Watch the recorded info session here. 
• Stage 1 – Indication of Interest Closes: 11:59p.m. PST, October 15, 2026 
• Notification of status on or by: November 3, 2026 
• Stage 2 – Invitation to Apply Opens (for invited applicants): November 3, 2026  
• Stage 2 – Invitation to Apply Closes: December 6, 2026 
• Finalists’ interviews with panel: January 19, 2027. Finalists may be asked to travel for an in-person interview.  
• The 2027-29 Poet Laureate’s term begins: May 1, 2027

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the Washington State Poet Laureate, a candidate must:

• Have significantly contributed to the poetic legacy of Washington State and show demonstrable commitment to serving as an ambassador for poetry to audiences throughout Washington State 
• Be a current Washington State resident and reside primarily in Washington State 
• Not be a previous Washington State Poet Laureate. 

Policies 

*NEW: Only the interested candidate may submit an interest form. We are no longer able to accept nominations from a third party. 

You may apply once per Laureate cycle. 

Interest forms and applications are only accepted electronically through Submittable (below). 

Re-applications: Individuals who have applied in previous years are encouraged to apply again if they did not receive the Laureate designation. A new interest form must be completed. 

Applicants will be notified of their status on or by Tuesday, November 3, 2026. 

We will make no exceptions regarding the deadlines. 

Indication of Interest

You will be asked to provide the following in the interest form: 

• Contact information, 
• Brief biography, 
• Details on your work, accomplishments and skills, 
• CV or resume, 
• Links to work samples such as publications, video recordings of readings, documentation of performance history, including location, type of event, audience size and type, etc., or other creative methods that showcase your work, and 
• Statement of intent answering why you want to serve as Washington State Poet Laureate (750-word limit.)

Indication of Interest period ends on October 15, 2026. Applicants will be notified of the status of their interest form by November 3, 2026. 

Invitation to Apply 

Five to ten (5-10) applicants will be invited to apply after the initial indication of interest period closes. Applicants will be asked to provide: 

• References: Provide up to three (3) references, and 
• Narrative Questions: answer eight (8) narrative questions. 

Invitation to Apply period ends on December 6, 2026. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by January 13, 2027. 

Selection Process  

Poet Laureate applications are submitted using an online portal (Submittable).  

A geographically and culturally diverse panel of representatives from Washington’s arts, humanities and literary communities score each application. The panel identifies finalists to be interviewed by the panel. These interviews will happen via video conferencing/or in person depending on circumstances at that time. Finalists will be given more information about the interviews, scheduled for January 19, 2027, and a week to prepare.  

After the interviews, the panel makes a recommendation to the Governor, who appoints at their discretion.  

The 2027-2029 Poet Laureate’s term begins May 1, 2027. 

Selection Criteria 

Indication of Interest - Initial applicants are reviewed in the following areas: 

• Strength of statement of intent, 
• Experience as a poet, including proof of accomplishment in the field, and 
• Commitment to the poetry community and their community in general. 

Invitation to Apply - Invited applicants are reviewed in the following areas: 

• Experience as a poet, including proof of accomplishment in the field, 
• Compelling public speaker and demonstrated ability to engage a variety of audiences, 
• Committed ambassador for poetry, 
• Lived experience that highlights and/or connects the program to new audiences, 
• Demonstrated interest/experience in promoting equity and inclusion through the arts and humanities, and 
• Ability to independently plan and execute projects. 

Interviews - Selected finalists will be asked to participate in an interview with the selection panel during which they will have the opportunity to: 

• Introduce themselves and their work, 
• Discuss their responses in the application, and 
• Introduce and read up to three poems as if presenting to a general audience. 
• Describe how their lived experience and perspective might expand the reach of the poet laureate program.

Submittable Tips 

Saving: Save your Washington State Poet Laureate Application as you work on it by clicking the "Save Draft" button located at the end of this webpage. You can log out and log back in, take a break, or work on your application over several days without losing your data. Please note! The 'Save Draft' button will only work if you are connected to the internet. If you are working on the form in a place without internet, or where the connection is spotty, we advise drafting your responses in Word (or any word processing program) and then copying and pasting them into the form when you have reliable internet again. 

Collaboration: If multiple people will be contributing to a application of an individual, invite them to collaborate by clicking on the "Invite Collaborators" button located at the top right of this webpage. 

Required Questions: Questions marked with a red asterisk '*' must be completed before you submit your application. You will not be able to submit your application if any required questions have been left unanswered. 

Submitting: Once you have completed your application, click the "Submit" button at the end of this webpage. You will receive an automated email confirming that your application has been successfully submitted. 

Print or download a copy of your application by navigating to your "Personal Submissions" account list. Click on your application submission. This will open up the submission's details page, where you can click the Download button in the upper right of the viewing box. 

Questions? 

Linnea Ingalls, Tribal Cultural Affairs and WA State Poet Laureate program lead, at 360-252-9969 or linnea.ingalls@arts.wa.gov. 

Additional Information 

About ArtsWA 

ArtsWA is the Washington State Arts Commission. The Washington State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts fund our programs. Grants are contingent on available state and federal funding. ArtsWA complies with all local, state and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights. For more information regarding Washington State Arts Commission’s policies on Accessibility, Diversity, and Nondiscrimination, click here. 

About Humanities Washington 

Humanities Washington's mission is to open minds and bridge divides by creating spaces to explore different perspectives. We create spaces for people to come together to explore and consider what it means to be human, and to reflect on our shared past, present, and future. We hold events and programs led by cultural experts, scholars, and storytellers, who discuss everything from Washington State history to philosophy to current social issues. We also support and partner with a wide network of communities, organizations, and individuals across the state. All Humanities Washington programs are open to the public, and nearly all are free of charge. 

Transparency 

Let us know if you have an affiliation with ArtsWA or Humanities Washington. This is for transparency only; the panel will review your application without bias. Read our full Conflict of Interest policy. 

FY27 - GTO - Cultivating Healthy Communities - Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Rural Communities

Application closes Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 5:00 pm

Grant Overview

Washington's rural communities often face limited resources to launch projects that foster belonging, social connection, civic participation, community cohesion, and overall well-being. ArtsWA's Cultivating Healthy Communities – Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Rural Communities program aims to strengthen arts and cultural initiatives that build social connections and a sense of belonging while supporting the health and well-being of individuals and communities across rural Washington.

Grounded in research demonstrating that participation in the arts can reduce stress, anxiety, and social isolation, improve mental health outcomes, and enhance quality of life, the program recognizes the arts as a powerful, evidence-based tool for healing, stability, and community vitality. Through collaboration with trusted community partners and social infrastructures—including arts and culture nonprofits, libraries, parks and green spaces, community centers, and museums—the grant seeks to create meaningful opportunities that connect people and strengthen rural communities.

• Projects must be collaborative between cultural organizations, the community, and at least one other organization or service provider.
• Projects can span all creative disciplines and must be fully accessible by the public.
• Organizations that received funding during the FY26 pilot phase of the Cultivating Healthy Communities – Arts, Health, and Well-Being in Rural Communities will be prioritized.
• Communities with a strong agriculture-based economy and generational agricultural and food processing workers will be prioritized.
• ArtsWA supports projects offering in-person, participatory activities.
• Online activities that alleviate isolation and loneliness, especially among older adults, are also welcome if structured collaboratively with a service provider experienced with the community you seek to engage.

Funding Amounts

Grant amounts may vary depending on the available funds and number of eligible projects and applications received.  

Grants: $3,000 - $5,000  

This is a reimbursement grant. Payments are made after funds are spent, and after expense documentation and invoice forms have been submitted to and approved by ArtsWA.

Important Dates

• Application opens: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Info session: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, | Registration Link
• Office hours: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, | Registration Link
• Application closes: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
• Notification of grant award: by Thursday, November 12, 2026
• Timeframe to spend funds: July 1, 2026 – August 30, 2027
• Final report due: September 30, 2027

Eligibility

Applicant Eligibility

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a mission focused on arts, heritage, or culture   
• 501(c)(3)s’ must have current state corporate nonprofit status and current federal tax-exempt determination under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a social impact mission – funding must go to distinct projects as opposed to regular programming   
• Example: a social impact nonprofit may have a music program. This funding would not support the music program but can support a project produced by the music program. 
• Groups fiscally sponsored by an arts, heritage, or culture or a social impact 501(c)(3) nonprofit – Click here for more about fiscal sponsorship 
• Faith-based organizations may apply  
• Please note that projects not commonly recognized as open to the public, are an integral part of a specific religion, promote religious observance, worship, instruction, or proselytization are not eligible for this project support program.   
• Local Arts Agencies with official designation 
• Local Arts Agencies are officially designated by a local government to provide art services to the public on behalf of the local government 
• Tribal Governments

Ineligible to Apply 

• Individuals  
• For-profit organizations 
• Government agencies and departments (unless designated as Local Arts Agencies) 
• Universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools 

Eligibility questions? Contact Miguel Guillén, miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov, 360-252-9970 

Project Eligibility

• Project must be open to the public.  
• Project must happen between July 1, 2026 – August 30, 2027.*
• Project must have arts, heritage, and/or culture as a primary component. 
• Project must take place in Washington State.

*Because funding is being made available late in the year, projects that are eligible and already in progress but not completed may receive reimbursement for expenses already incurred

Allowable Expenses

What we can fund:

Project-specific expense examples:

• Artists fees
• Administrative costs
• Marketing costs

What we cannot fund:

• Individuals  
• For-profit organizations 
• Government agencies and departments (unless designated as Local Arts Agencies) 
• Universities, colleges, academic departments, and K-12 schools

View a full list of what ArtsWA can and cannot fund as a state agency.

Application Required Documents and Numbers

• IRS Letter of Determination. More information on Letter of Determination here. 
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s IRS Letter of Determination. 
• Organization’s Operating Budget  
• Fiscally sponsored: Operating budgets for fiscal sponsor and sponsored group 
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s UEI. 
• Federal Tax ID (EIN). 
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s EIN. 
• Statewide Vendor (SWV) number. * 
• Fiscally sponsored groups will use the fiscal sponsor’s SWV. 
• Washington State Unified Business Identifier (UBI) 
• All organizations must be registered as a Washington State Nonprofit/Charity with the Secretary of State including Fiscally Sponsored groups.

*If you have previously received payment from Washington State, check on the status of your SWV number here or by contacting: PayeeRegistration@ofm.wa.gov.

Funding Priorities

Starting with the FY26 funding cycle, we've implemented priority-based criteria to ensure our limited funds are distributed equitably. This funding structure and process is strategically designed to maximize support for our growing community while aligning with the objectives in our strategic plan. We seek to keep diverse communities engaged in the creative economy, support the creative sector statewide, and emphasize cultural equity, community diversity, and sector growth.

Priorities for Project Support grants 

• Organizations with operating budgets of $0 - $50,000
• Organizations in operation for 1 – 5 years
• Businesses located in counties commonly identified by the state as distressed areas: Clallam, Cowlitz, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Yakima
• Organizations serving constituencies consisting of 25% or more of an underserved* group.

*"Underserved" means populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, historical exclusion and marginalization due to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economics, disability, or other social or institutionally imposed barriers.

Grant Process

• Applications are reviewed for eligibility and scored by priority, with staff making funding recommendations based on priorities met. Approval for funding is made by the ArtsWA Executive Director or ArtsWA Board of Commissioners depending on the size of the grants.
• Notifications are sent via email and Submittable notifications.
• Awarded organizations will receive follow-up instructions on important deadlines and next steps.
• Contracts are sent to your organization or fiscal sponsor’s Authorized Official.
• Submit a Grant Reimbursement Form on or before August 30, 2027.
• Submit a Final Report Form on or before September 30, 2027.

Additional Information

Executive Orders 

This grant program is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency that requires compliance with applicable Executive Orders. If awarded funds through this program, grant recipients must attest to compliance. Below are the two Attestations that must be agreed to, to receive funding.

 I certify that our organization is in compliance with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, and that such compliance is material to the U.S. Government’s payment decisions for purposes of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729(b)(4), pursuant to Executive Order No. 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, dated January 21, 2025.

I certify that our organization does not operate any programs promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws, in accordance with Executive Order No. 14173.

• Civil Rights FAQs for Applicants and Grantees | National Endowment for the Arts 
• Assurance of Compliance | National Endowment for the Arts 

Accessibility 

Federally funded projects must be accessible to people with disabilities. You can use this accessibility checklist when planning your programs. You do not need to check all boxes to be eligible for funding; this is simply a worksheet and resource for your organization.

Appeals 

Unsuccessful applicants can appeal in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 30.12.036, found here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=30-12-036. 

Contact Us 

Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations, Program Manager at 360-252-9970 or miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov

Ashley Marshall, Grants to Organizations, Program Assistant at ashley.marshall@arts.wa.gov

If you need assistance with Submittable, take a look at our Submittable FAQs.