George Yatchisin to Be Appointed Santa Barbara Poet Laureate

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) – The Santa Barbara Public Library, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, is pleased to announce that George Yatchisin is slated to be the City’s next Poet Laureate. His installation will coincide with the proclamation recognizing National Poetry Month during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 22, at Santa Barbara City Hall.

A respected member of the local literary community, Yatchisin taught writing and held roles in marketing and communications at UC Santa Barbara for nearly 30 years. His poetry and essays have appeared in Edible Santa Barbara, The Santa Barbara Independent, Sunset Magazine, California Review of Books, and KCET’s food blog. He authored two acclaimed poetry collections, Feast Days and The First Night We Thought the World Would End. His work has been anthologized in I’ll Tell You Mine: Thirty Years of Nonfiction from the Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program, California Fire & Water: A Climate Anthology, Reel Verse: Poems About the Movies, and Clash by Night: An Anthology Inspired by The Clash’s “London Calling.”

“I plan to be everywhere poetry is and make sure poetry can flourish in places where it hasn’t—yet,” Yatchisin shared, emphasizing his inclusive vision for the role. Yatchisin intends to visit all 21 schools within the Santa Barbara Unified School District to inspire young writers and readers. He also aims to establish poetry pop-up events throughout the city to encourage spontaneous and diverse community participation, and to produce an anthology that celebrates the unique culinary and agricultural heritage of the region.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Poet Laureate program honors the pivotal role of local literary artists in enriching cultural and civic dialogue. “I’m proud of our Poet Laureates,” said Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse. “With initiatives like this, we’re able to bring more community voices to the table and create new ways to engage with the City.” The Santa Barbara Public Library serves as “home” of the Poet Laureate, providing resources and hosting events that emphasize the value and accessibility of poetry in the community. The Office of Arts and Culture, a joint City-County agency, administers the program.

Yatchisin will succeed Melinda Palacio, who participated in over 100 events during her two-year tenure. Past Laureates also include Emma Trelles, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Enid Osborn, Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, Chryss Yost, Paul Willis, David Starkey, Perie
Longo and Barry Spacks.

During his term, Yatchisin hopes to underscore the role of poetry in building social connections. “My aim is to inspire and nurture all forms of creative expression, beginning with poetry. It has the unique power to cultivate empathy, deepen our connections with each other, and highlight our shared humanity. My goal is to ensure that everyone feels empowered to engage creatively,” he said.

About the Santa Barbara Public Library:

The Santa Barbara Public Library is a department of the City of Santa Barbara and is dedicated to supporting education for all ages through classes and events, building a community of readers, empowering individuals with free access to information, and connecting people to community resources. For more information, go to www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/lib/default.asp.

About the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture

The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture serves as the local governmental umbrella for arts and culture projects and programs within Santa Barbara County. The Office represents a longstanding partnership between the County and City of Santa Barbara and is designated by the California Arts Council as a State Local Partner. For more information, go to www.sbac.ca.gov.