Indiana looks for successor poet to fill government post

The poet laureate may be an officially recognized state position, but the responsibilities the position entails can be a little unclear. As a result, when the House of Representatives chose Joyce Brinkman as Indiana’s first official state poet laureate in 2002, she decided to further define her role.\n“There was really no program to go along with it,” Brinkman said. “I really wanted us to have some kind of system because it was just whenever the General Assembly felt like doing something. So I put together legislation that codifies what the poet laureate does.”\nFour years later, Brinkman has better defined the responsibilities of poet laureate. Since the Indiana Arts Commission is currently accepting applications for the next poet laureate position, Brinkman’s successor will hopefully have clearer guidelines for what his or her position entails. \nThe responsibilities for the poet laureate now include composing poems for public functions and introducing public speakers, but the most important role is that of encouraging the arts in schools, Brinkman said.\n“Our legislation has an educational component,” Brinkman said. “We really feel like poetry is important from the standpoint of education. Students who study poetry really do better, not just in language or arts; it also improves math skills.”\nThe position, officially created in 2002, was designed to promote the arts – specifically poetry – to the general public. Much of the focus is directed toward the younger generation.\n“We’re asking people to nominate poets that are active in the state of Indiana,” said Susan Britsch, community development manager and Arts and Education coordinator for the Indiana Arts Commission. “One of the responsibilities of the poet laureate is to basically represent Indiana in the art of poetry to the educational community and the public. We’re looking for public work and work that has been published.”\nBritsch is in charge of accepting nominations for the state’s new poet laureate. The deadline is Feb. 15 and applications should be sent to the Indiana Arts Commission. \nAs reigning poet laureate, Brinkman has completed various projects promoting poetry throughout the state. Shared Spaces/Shared Voices featured the work of Indiana writers in Indianapolis city buses. Brinkman also worked on “sports poetry clinics” in schools around the state, which encouraged student-athletes to express their passion for their sport through poetry. Those clinics led to the recording of a CD, and the publishing of an anthology.\nBrinkman has published poetry in various newspapers and magazines, and she also has written two books of poetry. She believes there is a sense of responsibility that comes with the title of poet laureate.\n“It’s not so much an honor as it is being an ambassador for poetry,” Brinkman said. “That’s the poet laureate’s job: being an ambassador for poetry. We’re all unique individuals, and we all have a unique view. And we happen to be the only creatures on the planet that can write.”