Poetry Resources

Poets Laureate

Please let us know if we’re missing any cities in our region, or if you know of better website links.

Washington State Poet Laureate

• https://www.arts.wa.gov/washington-state-poet-laureate/

Auburn

• https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/parks_arts_recreation/arts_and_entertainment/auburn_s_poet_laureate

Bainbridge Island 

• https://www.bainbridgeislandpoetlaureate.org/

Clark County

• https://clark.wa.gov/search?search=poet+laureate

Bremerton

• https://bremertonwa.gov/1093/Poet-Laureate-Program

Kenmore (Youth Poet Laureate)

• https://artsofkenmore.com/opportunities/

Lacey

(website under development)

Olympia

• https://www.olympiawa.gov/community/arts,_culture___heritage/poet_laureate.php

Port Angeles (Clallam County Poet Laureate)

• https://www.nols.org/poet/

Port Townsend

• https://cityofpt.us/administration/page/press-release-city-port-townsend-arts-commission-announced-2024-poet-laureate

Redmond

• https://www.redmond.gov/1762/Redmonds-Poet-Laureate

Seattle Civic Poet

• https://www.seattle.gov/arts/programs/civic-poet

Seattle Youth Poet Laureate

• https://www.facebook.com/YouthPoetLaureateSEA/

Tacoma

• https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_departments/community_and_economic_development/office_of_arts/programs/tacoma_poet_laureate

Vancouver (Clark County Poet Laureate)

• https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/parks___recreation/cultural_division/clark_county_poet_laureate.php

Vashon Island

(no website)

Conferences and Retreats

Please let us know of other conferences and retreats in our region that we can add.

Cascadia Poetry Festival

(often in Seattle, annually in October)

• https://cascadiapoeticslab.org/cascadia-poetry-festival-8/

Centrum Writers Conference

(Port Townsend, annually in July)

• https://centrum.org/program/writers-conference/

Chuckanut Writers Conference

(Bellingham, June)

• https://chuckanutwritersconference.com/

Orcas Island Lit Fest

(Orcas Island, June, with poetry components)

• https://www.oilf.org/

Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference

(Seattle, September, includes some poetry components)

• https://www.pnwa.org/

Poets on the Coast

(La Conner, writing retreat for women)

• http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/

Rainforest Writers Village

(Lake Quinnault, five-day writing retreats)

• https://rainforestwriters.com/index.html

Seabeck Haiku Getaway

(Seabeck, annual Haiku Northwest retreat in October)

• https://www.haikunorthwest.org/seabeck-haiku-getaway

Skagit River Poetry Festival

(La Conner, held in October in even-numbered years)

• https://skagitriverpoetry.org/festival/

Write in the Harbor

(Tacoma, November)

• https://www.tacomacc.edu/academics-programs/continuingeducation/writeharbor/

Write on the Sound

(Edmonds, October)

• https://www.edmondswa.gov/government/departments/cultural_services/write_on_the_sound

Other Resources

Please help us expand these listings, focusing on Western Washington.

Ars Poetica WA (Bainbridge Island)

(periodic juried art/poetry competitions, with exhibits and readings)

• https://arspoeticawa.weebly.com/

Cultivating Voices Live Poetry (Zoom)

First, second, and third Sundays 12:00–1:30 p.m.

(originally a Western Washington poetry series)

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/685251748906097

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAOcIik3ufSrFpYljfh9TNbRt1f1h2Max

Hedgebrook (Freeland)

(writer residency programs for women)

• https://www.hedgebrook.org/

Hugo House (Seattle)

(poetry and other writing classes and readings)

• https://hugohouse.org/

• https://hugohouse.org/courses/

• https://hugohouse.org/upcoming-events/write-hugo-house/

Index Arts Festival (Index)

(annual festival in July with a poetry open mic)

• https://www.facebook.com/index.artsfestival/

Jack Straw Writers (Seattle)

(annual fellowship that welcomes poets)

• https://www.jackstraw.org/program/jack-straw-writers-program/

Open Books: A Poem Emporium (Seattle)

(poetry-only bookstore, with readings and occasional workshops)

• https://open-books-a-poem-emporium.myshopify.com/

The Poetry Department Blog (Bellingham)

(statewide and national poetry news)

• https://thepoetrydepartment.wordpress.com/

Pongo Poetry Project (Seattle)

(teaching youth poetry in prisons)

• https://pongopoetryproject.org

Seattle Arts & Lectures (Seattle)

(visiting speakers, featuring a poetry series)

• https://lectures.org/

Whatcom Writers and Publishers (Bellingham)

(supper club connecting writers to publishing industry leaders, sometimes focusing on poetry)

• https://www.whatcomwritersandpublishers.org/

Writers in the Schools (Puget Sound)

(teaching residencies in public schools for poets and other writers)

• https://lectures.org/youth-programs/wits/

Youth Poetry Fellowship (Seattle)

(mentorship activities and learning opportunities for youth poets)

• https://lectures.org/youth-programs/youth-poetry-fellowship/