About the N.C. Poet Laureate program

The poet laureate is appointed by the Governor of North Carolina in consultation with a panel of literary professionals who represent the state’s geographical, racial and literary diversity. The laureate typically serves a two-year term, renewable at the governor's discretion and receives a $15,000 annual stipend from the N.C. Arts Council along with staff support.

Each state poet laureate shapes the position based on his or her own strengths through a long-term project or program of special interest. However, all poets laureate share the following duties: travel across the state to engage writers and readers of all ages in schools and communities, communication with the press, and writing commemorative poems for historical or culturally important occasions.

The state’s current poet laureate is Joseph Bathanti, a Vilas resident who serves as Professor of Creative Writing at Appalachian State University in Boone, where he is also Director of Writing in the Field and Writer-in-Residence in the University's Watauga Global Community.

Learn more about past North Carolina Poets Laureate »

To learn more, download the N.C. Poet Laureate Fact Sheet »