Washingtoner - Christian Paige Selected as Tacoma's 2023-2025 Poet Laureate

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~ The Tacoma Arts Commission has announced the selection of Christian Paige as the 2023-2025 Tacoma Poet Laureate. Over the next two years, Paige will participate in and host public poetry readings, workshops, and other community events to advance the literary arts in Tacoma.

In honor of National Poetry Month, 2021-2023 Tacoma Poet Laureate Lydia K. Valentine, the Tacoma Arts Commission, and Tacoma Public Library will host Pass the Torch, a poetry event at which Paige will officially be awarded the title. The free, public event will be held Wednesday, April 12, from 6 – 7 PM at Tacoma Public Library's Moore Branch (215 S. 56th St.) and livestreamed on the Tacoma Arts Commission's Facebook page. Pass the Torch will feature a conversation between Valentine and Paige as well readings of their poems.

Christian Paige is an Emmy-nominated spoken word poet, a professional speaker, and an educator who speaks at schools, conferences, and events across the United States. He has spent his entire career in and around education advocating for historically marginalized populations and working to create equitable environments where young people can thrive. His work has appeared on national stages, on television, and in museum exhibits. He was born and raised in Tacoma where he currently lives and creates.

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On March 20th 2023 it was announced that Christian Paige had been selected as Tacoma's 2023-2025 Poet Laureate by The Tacoma Arts Commission. Over the next two years he will be participating in public poetry readings, workshops and other community events to promote literary arts within Tacoma.

Paige stated "As Poet Laureate I plan to focus on two things; I come from the world of education and have seen the impact that art can have on young people so I want to create programming that provides space for them to see themselves as creators; I also want to create consistent spaces for poet voices of Tacoma to be heard consistently"

In celebration of National Poetry Month 2021-2023 Poet Laureate Lydia K Valentine along with The Tacoma Arts Commission & The Public Library are hosting Pass The Torch; a poetry event where Christian Paige will officially receive his title as Poet Laureate which is free & open to public attendance & livestreamed via The Arts Commissions Facebook page; this event will include a conversation between both poets & readings of their poems

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Christian Paige is an Emmy nominated spoken word poet & professional speaker who speaks at schools conferences & events across America advocating for historically marginalized populations & creating equitable environments for young people to thrive in; his work has been featured nationally on television & museum exhibits

The City Of Tacomas Office Of Arts & Cultural Vitality founded The Poet Laureate Program back in 2008 which was then taken over by Urban Grace Church before being transferred back into City Of Tacomas hands in 2011; more information regarding this program can be found at cityoftacoma.org/poet

Filed Under: Government, City

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