Cayuga County is getting a poet laureate.
The legislature voted last week to create the distinction, allowing a committee to designate a poet laureate for a three-year term. The laureate will act as the county’s official poet, celebrating milestones and important moments for the county through their poetry as well as developing programs for the community revolving around the literary arts.
Legislator Heidi Nightengale has been spearheading this project. She told Finger Lakes News Radio that the poet laureate will be a valuable asset in promoting the arts in the county.
“We will have the opportunity to have a poet available to us to write for us in times of celebrations. We’ll also be able to develop programs that are free and available to the community from youth to our seniors to expose them to the literary arts,” said Nightengale.
While some jurisdictions provide their poet laureate with a stipend, the Cayuga County position will not be financially compensated, instead working solely as a volunteer.
“It would be an honor to be chosen as poet laureate, someone whose voice is being used distinctly to represent the county,” said Nightengale. “We made the decision that our poet laureate would be a distinction only.”
Under the resolution, a poet laureate committee will be formed to choose the laureate. The committee will be composed of the county manager or designee, the Human Resources Administrator, one county legislator, and three members of the Finger Leakse Arts Council, or those recommended by the council.
Nightengale added that she expects the county’s first poet laureate to be selected by the fall.
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