AUSTIN (KXAN) — The U.S., as well as some of its states and cities, have poet laureates — government employees who write commemorative works about important locations and events, as well as advocate for the professional literary community.
Texas has appointed a laureate yearly since 2003. The current Texas poet laureate is Amanda Johnston, of Round Rock.
Most of the state’s major cities have their own, with one exception — Austin.
KB Brookins, an Austin poet, launched a petition to bring the issue to Austin’s City Council. They said that not having a poet laureate is “a missed opportunity.”
“This person promotes literacy throughout the city, specifically via the art of poetry,” Brookins said. “Kind of like a cheerleader of sorts for the art of poetry, and also for the city’s history, art and culture. Austin really prides itself on being the ‘Music Capital of Texas’ and a big arts city. So I found that to be puzzling.”
At the time of writing, the petition has 135 signatures. Some of the signatories include members of the City of Austin Arts Commission, local booksellers and artists, Johnston, and 2021 Texas Poet Laureate Cyrus Cassells (of San Marcos, Texas).
“For decades, many local organizations have created and nurtured Austin’s poetry scene with little to no budget and recognition, yet, University of Texas at Austin has one of the most nationally recognized MFA programs, Austin Poetry Slam is one of the longest-running poetry events in Texas, and Austin markets itself as a mecca for Texas arts,” the petition reads.
The petition asks for the city to:
- Create an official Austin Poet Laureate program through the Austin Public Library;
- Budget $50,000 every two years for the program; and,
- Allow APL to make a committee to select the poet laureate.
“I know from personal experience, [it’s easier] to get people to like an open mic than it is to get them to like a ribbon cutting… or a political rally because people enjoy art, they want to be entertained, they want to be moved,” Brookins said. “A poet has the skill, the creativity at their disposal to make you feel moved about something that you see every day, like Barton Springs, or historical landmarks through East Austin.”