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Home Arts & Entertainment Applications for next Madison Youth Poet Laureate open April 1

Applications for next Madison Youth Poet Laureate open April 1

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Applications for next Madison Youth Poet Laureate open April 1
Justin Festge Russell (left), Madison’s current Youth Poet Laureate, and City of Madison Poet Laureate Steven Espada Dawson (Photo supplied.)

The Madison Arts Commission and Madison Poet Laureate Steven Espada Dawson have announced the fourth annual call for a Madison Youth Poet Laureate.

The Madison Youth Poet Laureate program is a partnership between the City of Madison and the National Youth Poet Laureate program, which is an initiative of Urban Word. The Youth Poet Laureate program honors talented young poets and provides competitive opportunities for young people to showcase their literary art on the regional and national stage.

The Madison Youth Poet Laureate serves for one year and will be expected to give three public readings alongside the current Madison Poet Laureate during their term, according to a press release from the City of Madison. Additionally, the Youth Poet Laureate will have the opportunity to apply for the National Youth Poet Laureate role in the fall.

Justin Festge Russell, Madison’s current Youth Poet Laureate, is a graduate from East High School and a Freshman First Wave Scholar at UW-Madison. He has focused his time as Youth Poet Laureate on inspiring other youth to express themselves through Hip Hop, spoken word poetry, and other literary arts.

Applications for the 2025-2026 Madison Youth Poet Laureate are open throughout National Poetry Month, beginning on April 1, and closing on April 30. To be eligible, applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 19 at the time of selection and must reside within the City of Madison. To apply, click here.