NORWICH ESTABLISHES POET LAUREATE POSITION

Norwich — Norwich soon will have a poet laureate to add a creative touch to local events, ceremonies and other occasions.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to establish an honorary poet laureate position. The Norwich Creates Coalition will establish a five-member selection committee with representatives from the Norwich Creates Collaborative, Otis Library, Three Rivers Community College, Norwich Public Schools and Norwich Free Academy. The panel will make a recommendation to the City Council on the appointment.

The Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition is promoting the idea of having cities and towns in the region each establish a poet laureate position. The poet laureates write poetry for local occasions.

Wendy Bury, executive director of the cultural coalition, said 18 cities and towns in Connecticut currently have appointed poet laureates, including New London — the only other local participating municipality. Bury told the City Council the position would promote creativity in the city and encourage young people to write poetry.

The plan is to pay the poet laureate a stipend of about $300, with funds raised through donations.

Shiela Hayes, a member of Norwich Creates, said the poet laureate also would help promote tourism in the city and even attract economic development.