The Academy of American Poets has a long history of championing the role of poet laureate, including by being a resource listing local poets laureate and providing information to communities interested in creating new poets laureate positions.
In 2019, we expanded on this work, and our prizes and fellowships for poets, by launching the Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships. The Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships are $50,000 awards given to honor poets of literary merit appointed to serve in civic positions and to enable them to undertake meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that engage their fellow residents, including youth, with poetry, helping to address issues important to their communities, as well as create new work.
In addition to the other eligibility and application criteria, the concept, scope, components, depth, geographic reach, and community support of the proposed project will be considered by a panel of award-winning poets and leaders in poetry and civic engagement. The panelists who recommended the recipients of the 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships were Director of Letras Latinas at Notre Dame's Institute for Latino Studies Francisco Aragón, former Columbia, SC Poet Laureate and Professor of English at the University of South Carolina Ed Madden, National Student Poets Founder Olivia Morgan, and former U.S. Poet Laureate and Academy Chancellor Tracy K. Smith. Final award decisions were approved and finalized by members of the Academy of American Poets Board of Directors.
The fellowships were established in partnership with the Mellon Foundation. Read more about the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellows and their civic projects.
Applications for the 2023 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowships were accepted from December 5, 2022 until February 17, 2023.