A partnership between the Muskingum County Arts Council and Urban Word, the Muskingum County Youth Poet Laureate program celebrates young writers and leaders who champion civic engagement, community service and enhancement, and are passionate about inclusion and equity issues. By amplifying youth voices across the county, the program highlights how young people enrich civic discourse, build strong connections, and remind us of our collective duty to future generations and shared ideals.
This program is sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council.
This program is intended for:
- Residents of Muskingum County
- Age 13-19
- Who write poetry
- And want to make a difference in the community
The 2026-27 Muskingum County Youth Poet Laureate will
- Get an opportunity to publish a chapbook of poems
- Read their work at different locations in the county
- Meet local leaders and elected officials
- Become a youth leader in the community
- Receive a stipend and travel expenses
To learn more about the National Poet Laureate Program and/or Urban Word, click here. See below for submission (application) guidelines.
Submission (Application) Guidelines
Applications for the inaugural (2026-27) Muskingum County Youth Poet Laureate position are now open.
Once again, applicants must be residents of Muskingum County, age 13-18, who write poetry, and want to make a difference in their community.
Please prepare two (2) documents. The first document should have FIVE (5) original poems (previously published ok). The second document should be your CV/Resume. It is strongly suggested, though not required, that you use this template for your CV/Resume. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE FILE BEFORE EDITING – THIS IS A TEMPLATE FOR EVERYONE TO USE.
Don’t leave anything out of your CV/Resume — brag about yourself! However small you think something you did is, or how little you think it relates to being a youth poet laureate, put it in your CV/resume. We want to know about it.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, apply anyway. Maybe you don’t think you write well, or maybe you don’t think you have anything to offer to the community — please apply. If you would like to see a change in your community, apply. The Muskingum County Youth Poet Laureate Program cares about your voice.
Email both documents to mc-ypl@artsmuskingum.com and use the subject “Youth Poet Laureate Application” in the subject line.
The deadline to submit is November 20 2026.
If you have any questions about this process, please email info@artsmuskingum.com and someone will get back to you.
