LIVING POETS PROJECT, A POET LAUREATE PROGRAM

The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC), in partnership with Boston Poet Laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah and Boston Public Schools Library Services, invites Boston area poets and teaching artists to apply for the Living Poets Project, designed to bring poetry to life with young people across the city.

 Through this initiative, poets will facilitate poetry-centered engagements–such as readings, workshops, or other interactive literary projects–within Boston Public Schools between February 2026 through June 2026. 

(Schools will apply separately to host poetry events.)

Title: Living Poets Project 2025-2026

Type of Engagement: Short-term, project-based contract

Compensation: $700 honorarium per project (we are looking for 5 activations total)

Location:  Five Boston Public Schools locations 

Project Description: 

The goal of the Living Poets Project is to connect young people living in the city of Boston to the very alive poets writing and existing alongside them today. Young people deserve to know that the story of poetry does not end in a yellow wood, upon a midnight dreary, or in Langston's Hughes' "Harlem." The story of poetry is being written RIGHT NOW by the poets in and outside of Boston, young and old, writing today. As such, the Living Poets Project aims to get young Bostonians excited about poetry, to give them the opportunity to hear living poets read, and to give young people space to write and read their own poetry, and maybe even consider if they might be living poets too.

 We are seeking poets who are excited to:

• Share their craft with young people
• Create space for young people’s voices
• Cultivate an atmosphere of fun, curiosity, creativity, and leadership
• Celebrate poetry!

We encourage projects that invite participation rather than solely performance, and encourage young people to build confidence and connection. This opportunity is centered in the practice of being a living poet in community with young people. We also encourage projects that reflect Boston’s diversity. 

You do not need to be a seasoned teaching artist! We welcome poets who are emerging in their youth engagement practice.

Proposal Guidelines and Scope of Work:

In your proposal, please describe the project you would offer. You may propose a reading, workshop, collaborative writing session, poetry circle, or another creative format. 

Your proposal should include:

• Project Description: A clear description of the class, workshop, reading, or activation. What experience do you hope to create for young people? What do you hope youth will take away from this experience? How will youth be invited into the project? What is the length of the project? (Session lengths should be between 50–60 minutes to accommodate classroom schedules. Poets may propose more than one session–for example 2 "50 minute sessions" to take place across a school day; however, all sessions must fit within a single project scope and are covered by one honorarium.)
• Intended Participants: Which age group you would like to work with (elementary, middle, or high school students)? Why are you drawn to working with this age group? What is the ideal group size for your project?
• Motivation and Experience: What draws you to the Living Poets Project? What experiences, both lived and professional, do you bring to this work? How do you cultivate a safe and generative space in your work with young people? 
• Format Logistics: Do you have any technical needs? (e.g. a projector, microphone, podium, etc.) Are there any limits to when you can schedule your programming (time of day, day of the week, certain months, etc.)?

Important Dates + Selection Process

Important Dates:

• Application Opens: December 22, 2025
• Application Deadline: Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis with a preference for applications submitted by deadline January 20, 2026. 
• The application will remain open until the series is fully booked.
• Workshop Assignment Notification: Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture/ City Poet Laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah

Selection Process:

• Selection Facilitator: Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC), City of Boston Poet Laureate Emmanuel Oppong-Yeboah, and 2 professionals from the literary community
• Final Selection:  Applications will be reviewed and scored by literary professionals who will access all proposals and determine the strongest candidates to move forward. 

Responsibilities of Recipients:

Selected poets and teaching artists will be responsible for:

• Facilitating the approved proposal
• Coordinating their own transportation to and from their assigned school
• Communicating in a timely manner with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the Boston Public Schools Libraries regarding all aspects of the project
• Registering as a City of Boston vendor and submitting an invoice for payment. Processing of honoraria may take up to 30 days from the implementation of the project. 

Accommodations and Contact Information

MOAC is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience. If you require accommodations to complete the application process or participate in the program, please contact Tom Johnston at thomas.johnston@boston.gov as soon as possible. We are happy to discuss your needs and make the necessary arrangements.

Apply Now:

You may submit your application below via Submittable. If you do not have a Submittable account, you will be prompted to create one.

For any questions regarding the scholarship or application process, please reach out to Tom Johnston at thomas.johnston@boston.gov.

Thank you!