Governor’s office
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly has announced the return of the Poet Laureate program to the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC).
“Promoting the humanities preserves the legacy of generations that came before us, inspires the artists of tomorrow, and stimulates community and economic development,” said Governor Kelly. “KCAIC does a great job of measuring, promoting, supporting and developing the arts to grow the state economy and generate jobs related to the creative industry – and I know the Commission will be a good steward of the poets program. laureates to continue this mission.
The Poet Laureate program is designed to encourage appreciation of poetry in Kansas by making high quality poetry available free to a wider audience. It recognizes a citizen poet of exceptional talent and achievement and designates him as the best poet representing the state.
The program returns to KCAIC after being previously hosted by Humanities Kansas. KCAIC is part of the Community Development Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce.
“As the state’s leading agency in support of all creative disciplines, I am very pleased that the Poet Laureate program is making a return to KCAIC and Commerce,” said the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce. David Toland. “The arts are an essential part of economic development – it is how we remind each other why we do the work we do to build our communities and our world. Sharing the beauty and perspective with the people of Kansas is a fantastic way to ensure that they are happy to continue living and working in our state, and I am very happy that we are resurrecting this program at the Department of Commerce.
“Kansas has a long and proud history of supporting poetry and producing great poets. Incorporating the Poet Laureate into our programming will allow us to highlight this legacy and build on its success, ”said Peter Jasso, Director of KCAIC.
To learn more about the Poet Laureate program, visit Poet Laureate Page on the website of the Ministry of Commerce.
The current Kansas Poet Laureate is Huascar Medina. Medina is a Topeka-based poet, writer and performer. He currently works as a freelance writer and literary editor for seven-eight-five magazine publishing stories that highlight literary and artistic events in Northeast Kansas.
The Poet Laureate program is free to all Kansas nonprofits. If you are interested in welcoming Huascar Medina as a speaker or presenter, please contact [email protected] for more information.
