The Arts of Kenmore’s Youth Poet Laureate Initiative (AOK/YPL) is a pathway supporting youth building arts portfolio for career & college readiness: including publishing, leadership, and performance opportunities, and community engagement.

  • April 10 — Online Registration Deadline — applications must be received before 11:30pm
  • April 19 — Live auditions at the Hangar in Kenmore’s Town Square, 6728 NE 181st St, 6-8pm
  • April 19 — Selection Announcement
  • July TBD — Mayoral Proclamation at Kenmore City Council meeting

Arts of Kenmore is seeking submissions for Kenmore’s 3rd annual Youth Poet Laureate competition.

  • One applicant will be selected by jury panel to reign for one year: May 2024 through April 2025.
  • Exclusively open to Juniors/11th graders residing in Kenmore, WA. Students at Inglemoor high school,
  • Secondary Academy for Success, and Northshore Networks are encouraged to submit application.
Register Now

Submission Requirements

  • Submit five (5) original poems by April 10 deadline, and
  • Be resident of Kenmore WA 98028, and
  • Be high school Junior and/or equivalent to 11th grade studies at IHS, SAS, and/or NS Networks.
  • Confirm submitted works are unpublished and not under consideration in any other competition or exhibition. Works produced under classroom/workshop instruction are acceptable.
  • Attend live audition and interview on April 19 at the Hangar, 6pm-8pm

Awards

  • Selected applicant will receive the title of Youth Poet Laureate ’25 for one year: May 2024 through April 2025,
  • $100 honoraria award sponsored by Griffith H. Williams & East Point West Press,
  • Published Chapbook by East Point West Press Publishing of YPL’s original works, – Mayoral Proclamation by Kenmore City Council,
  • Pathway to ArtsWA (WA state Arts & Culture) Poetry Out Loud, and 4Culture’s Poetry in Public: Places of Landing platforms,
  • Solo exhibition at City Gallery in Kenmore City Hall, during April 2025 National Poetry Month,
  • Invitations to perform original works at AOK and affiliates, City of Kenmore and community events.
Register Now

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT

Selected applicant will be obligated to create and present a project that reflects their ambitions and engages youth and community in the art of written and spoken word.

JURY PANEL

The following panel will adjudicate written submissions and spoken audition: – Griffith H. Williams, East Point West Press publisher, retired NSD English teacher,

  • Terry Busch, East Point West Press editor, poet,
  • Chris Jarmick, East Point West Press poet, owner of The BookTree indie bookstore,
  • Sara Solum Hayashi, AOK Representative, Executive Director,
  • Jayden Chang, Youth Poet Laureate 2023

REVIEW

Upon request, the jury panel will provide review of submissions, audition and interview, after April 19, 2024. Please email artsofkenmore1@nullgmail.com.

Register Here

  • Applicant is required to be in their 11th Grade of studies at Inglemoor High School

  • Poem Submission

    Please submit a minimum of 5 poems, each in a separate document. Please save or export your documents to PDF format. The 6th poem submission is optional.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 5 MB.
  • Approx. 100 words.
  • Approx. 100 words.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Empowered by AOK | Sponsored by East Point West Press.