<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class="">Nominations for Sonoma County Poet Laureate Open December 1, 2019. Two-Year Term Begins April 2020.</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class=""></b></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none; background-color: #ffffff" class=""><b class="">SEBASTOPOL, CALIF., November 20, 2019—</b></span><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Nominations are open for Sonoma County's 11th Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate is a Sonoma County resident who has demonstrated a commitment to the literary arts in the County. The Poet Laureate often participates in official ceremonies and readings and receives a $1,000 stipend.</span></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">The Sonoma County Poet Laureate is chosen by a distinguished panel of representatives who demonstrate a profound knowledge of, and an active commitment to, the life of poetry in Sonoma County. Members of the Selection Panel represent the five Sonoma County Supervisory Districts, Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma County Library and Sebastopol Center for the Arts. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">“Poetry gives voice to emotions and form to vision. In Sonoma County, we celebrate poets as the artists they are through the Sonoma County Poet Laureate program. The program recognizes the gift they bring and the needs they meet in these times of natural disaster as well as in times of celebration,” says Poet Laureate Selection Committee Member Cynthi Stefanoni.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Nominations for Poet Laureate require that the poet be a resident of Sonoma County whose poetry manifests a high degree of excellence and who has produced a critically acclaimed body of work. The nominee must also have demonstrated a commitment to the literary arts in Sonoma County, must propose and perform a project of their own creation and must agree to participate in official ceremonies and poetry readings.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">This year’s panel/committee commits to the following timeline:</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Opening of nominations — December 1, 2019</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Deadline for nominations — January 15, 2020</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Poet's work samples reviewed and finalists selected — February 5, 2020</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Works of finalists reviewed — February 5-26, 2020</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Poet Laureate selected — February 26, 2020 </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Poet Laureate recommendation made to Board of Supervisors — March 12, 2020</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Press Release to all Media of new Poet Laureate — March 12, 2020</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Poet Laureate Presentation Reception — April 26, 2020 </span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Consistent with tradition, the Sonoma County Poet Laureate will not have a formal job description but will be encouraged to develop an agenda promoting poetry and the literary arts in Sonoma County. Organizers of various community events in Sonoma County may invite the poet laureate to participate in their events. </span></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">The public is invited to nominate qualified poets. Information about requirements and application instructions can be found on the Sebastopol Center for the Arts website at <a href="http://sebarts.org/poet-laureate" class="">sebarts.org/poet-laureate</a>. </span></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></p><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span># <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span># <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>#</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><b class="">Enriching Lives through the Arts</b></span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Sebastopol Center for the Arts is a dynamic community arts organization committed to cultivating creativity and inspiration. For over 30 years, SCA has been a destination for artists and arts enthusiasts—our award-winning programs provide ways to experience and explore culture through diverse forms of creative expression.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Since its inception in 1988, Sebastopol Center for the Arts has grown to be one of the most vibrant arts organizations in Sonoma County as well as Northern California. We are dedicated to continuing to offer high quality arts programming for all—and serve as a platform for local, regional, national and international artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">We present several art exhibitions, musical performances and classes and events in Visual, Performing, Literary, Ceramics, Open Studios and Film Arts throughout the year—our ongoing success can be attributed to the passion and commitment of our artists, teachers, volunteers and generous supporters.</span></div></body></html>