Thanks for posting a new poem.

I hope to be able to do more with this group in a month or two's
time when I should be in one house instead of splitting my time
between two.

Meanwhile:

Local Laureate:

On Sunday I opened some mail from my local City Hall. It had been
delivered on Saturday but I thought it could wait.

One letter surprised me. It is an invitation to apply to be the
City's Laureate for a year. It is based on the UK's national Poet
Laureate.

Anyone who has read my poetry will know that I'm no poet. They
expect applicants, who must live or work within the local
boundaries, to submit up to six poems or 1000 words of prose, AND

1. A current CV (resume)
2. A personal statement (one A4 sheet) that must demostrate:
- The personal and professional benefits the Laureateship will have
on their creative development;
- What contributions they expect to make to the local literature
programme and this year's theme (Interpretations of Identity and
engaging with young people);
- The ability to be creative and adaptable in their approach to
writing;
- Any relevant work experience;
- What they hope to achieve during the year.
3. Applicants must be over 18 and live or work locally;
- Be willing to perform their work/get involved with key events/run
workshops/work with a diverse range of people;
- Be present in the district for a full year from September 2007;
- Provide evidence of Public Liability insurance up to five million
pounds if appointed.

What the Laureate gets:
Two thousand five hundred pounds (but the Public Liability Insurance
will cost nearly a thousand pounds!).
Publicised and published through City Hall publications.

Should I apply? Should I quote the major (Adult) site I post stories
on as my evidence of publication (especially the engaging with young
people!)? How do I perform my work? Practical demonstration?

I don't think anyone at City Hall has actually read my stories. I
hope not.

What would you do if your local City Hall offered a Laureate?

Dick

PS. My wife is NOT amused...
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