City of Duncanville

I. Purpose

The Duncanville Poet Laureate Program honors a local poet and recognizes the role of poetry, storytelling, and literary arts in the cultural life of the City of Duncanville.
The Poet Laureate serves as a creative ambassador for the City by promoting poetry, literacy, civic pride, and community connection for residents of all ages.

II. Authority and Oversight

• The Poet Laureate position is established by action of the Duncanville City Council and is administered by the Duncanville Arts Commission in coordination with the City’s Communications and Marketing Department.
  
• The Duncanville Arts Commission shall serve as the Poet Laureate Selection Panel and may include City staff support as needed for administration of the application and review process.
  
• The Arts Commission shall review eligible applications, identify finalists, and recommend one applicant to the City Council for appointment as Duncanville Poet Laureate.

III. Term of Service

• The Duncanville Poet Laureate shall serve a one-year term beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the following year.
  
• The term may be renewed for one additional one-year term upon recommendation of the Arts Commission and approval by the City Council, based on program needs and satisfactory performance.
  
• If the Poet Laureate is unable to complete the term, the City Council may appoint another eligible poet to serve the remainder of the term upon recommendation of the Arts Commission.

IV. Eligibility and Qualifications

To be eligible for appointment as Duncanville Poet Laureate, an applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
  
• Reside within the City of Duncanville and have maintained residency within the city for at least one year prior to the application deadline and maintain residency throughout the term of service.
  
• Provide proof of residency based on a physical residential address; a post office box alone is not sufficient proof of residency.
  
• Demonstrate a record of engagement with poetry or spoken word, which may include publications, performances, workshops, teaching, or community-based literary activities.
  
• Demonstrate artistic excellence, a clear literary voice, and the ability to engage the public in a professional manner.
  
• Show a prior commitment to promoting awareness of poetry, literacy, or literary arts in community settings.
  
• Be willing and able to appear at City-sponsored events and participate in official program activities coordinated by the City.

V. Duties and Expectations

The Duncanville Poet Laureate shall:

• Serve as an ambassador for poetry and the literary arts in Duncanville, championing the written and spoken word at City-related events and through City-approved communications.
  
• Present original poems or selected works at City Council meetings, ceremonies, festivals, commemorations, or other public events as requested and scheduled in coordination with City staff.
  
• Participate in up to four official City or community events during the term, unless otherwise approved by the City.
  
• Develop and lead at least one community-focused poetry project, workshop, event, reading, or initiative during the term that is accessible to Duncanville residents.
  
• Encourage appreciation of poetry and creative expression among residents of all ages, including youth.
  
• Contribute ideas for City-sponsored literary programs, contests, festivals, or public-engagement opportunities that highlight poetry and storytelling.
  
• Maintain a calendar of official Poet Laureate appearances, programming, and related activities in a format accessible to designated City staff.
  
• Submit a midyear activity update and a final written report summarizing official appearances, community programming, project progress, outreach activities, and works created in the Poet Laureate role.
  
• Coordinate with the City’s Communications and Marketing Department before participating in media interviews, issuing official public statements, or releasing promotional materials related to the Poet Laureate role.

The Poet Laureate is an honorary appointed position and is not a City employee, officer, or policymaker.

VI. Honorarium and Disbursement

• The Duncanville Poet Laureate shall receive a total honorarium of $3,500 for the one-year term of service.
  
• The honorarium is intended to recognize the Poet Laureate’s service and offset time, travel, materials, and incidental expenses associated with official Poet Laureate duties; it is not a salary and does not create an employment relationship.
  
• The honorarium shall be disbursed in three installments as follows:
  •  $1,000 upon City Council appointment and formal acceptance of the Poet Laureate role.
  • $1,000 upon submission and approval of a midyear activity update, due on or about the January Regular Meeting of the Duncanville Arts Commission, summarizing appearances, programming, and progress on the Poet Laureate’s community-focused literary project.
  • $1,500 upon submission and approval of a final report, due on or about June 30, summarizing completed activities, project outcomes, community impact, and official work produced during the term.
• Payment of each installment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the applicable service period and submission of required updates or reports, as determined by the City.
• Subject to budget availability and prior approval, the City may provide limited in-kind support such as use of City facilities, printing, or basic program materials separate from the honorarium.

VII. Selection Process and Annual Timeline

The City shall follow an annual selection process aligned with the July-to-June term:

• March: The City issues a call for applications and promotes the opportunity through official City communication channels.
  
• April: The application period closes, and City staff reviews all submissions for completeness and eligibility.
  
• Applications must be complete when submitted. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  
• May: The Arts Commission reviews qualified applications, identifies finalists, and may conduct interviews, sample readings, or both.
  
• June: The Arts Commission recommends a finalist to the City Council, and the City Council considers appointment of the Duncanville Poet Laureate.
  
• July 4: The Poet Laureate term begins with a public introduction to the community at the annual Independence Day Celebration.
• Early July: The newly appointed Poet Laureate is publicly announced and recognized as part of the City’s Independence Day celebration, when feasible, subject to the official event schedule and City communications planning.
  
• All applicants shall be notified of the outcome of the selection process following Council action.

VIII. Application Requirements

Applicants shall be required to submit the following:

• A completed application form provided by the City of Duncanville.
  
• Contact information, including name, physical address, telephone number, and email address.
  
• Proof of Duncanville residency based on the applicant’s physical residential address.
  
• A brief biography not to exceed one page.
  
• A brief artist statement describing the applicant’s work, approach to poetry, and interest in serving as Duncanville Poet Laureate.
  
• A short description of no more than one page outlining the applicant’s ideas for a community-focused poetry project or activities to be completed during the term.
  
• A poetry sample of up to 10 pages total, which may include page-based work, spoken-word text, or performance scripts.
  
• A resume or curriculum vitae, not to exceed three pages, highlighting publication history, performances, teaching, public speaking, workshops, and community engagement.

IX. Standards of Conduct

• The Poet Laureate shall conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the City of Duncanville, the Duncanville Arts Commission, and the public purpose of the program.
  
• The Poet Laureate shall comply with all applicable City policies and procedures while participating in City-sponsored events, communications, and programs.
  
• The Poet Laureate shall respond to official City communications related to the program in a timely manner.
  
• Failure to perform program duties, failure to submit required reports, violation of applicable City policies, or conduct that materially undermines the integrity or reputation of the program may constitute grounds for early termination of the appointment, as determined by the City Council.

X. Ceremonial Recognition

• The Duncanville Poet Laureate shall be publicly announced and recognized in connection with the City’s annual Independence Day celebration, when feasible, as the official public introduction of the Poet Laureate for the new term.
  
• Additional ceremonial appearances may be scheduled at City Council meetings or other City events at the discretion of the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, or designated staff.

XI. Intellectual Property and Use of Work

• The Poet Laureate retains copyright to original work created before and during the term.
  
• By accepting the appointment, the Poet Laureate grants the City of Duncanville a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, display, record, and distribute original work created for City events or official Poet Laureate activities for non-commercial civic, educational, archival, and promotional purposes, with appropriate credit to the Poet Laureate.