CITY OF SANTA BARBARA poet laureate program

 
the slhouette of a woman with a microphone at a podium
 

Thanks to all who submitted applications. We will publicly announce the next City Poet Laureate in April 2025.

current santa barbara Poet Laureate: Melinda Palacio

 

Melinda Palacio emceeing the Poetry Out Loud Competition. Photo credit: Julie Face Photography

 

Melinda Palacio is an internationally-lauded poet, author, and speaker. She serves as Santa Barbara’s first Chicana Poet Laureate. Her chapbook, “Folsom Lockdown,” won Kulupi Press’ Sense of Place award. Her novel, “Ocotillo Dreams,” received the Mariposa Award for Best First Book at the 2012 International Latino Book Awards, as well as a PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature. Her full-length poetry collection, “How Fire Is a Story, Waiting,” received First Prize in Poetry at the International Latino Book Awards. Her work has also been featured on the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day Program. Melinda’s term concludes in March 2025.

past Poets Laureate

2021-2023 | Emma Trelles

2019-2021 | Laure-Anne Bosselaar

2017-2019 | Enid Osborn

2015-2017 | Sojourner Kincaid Rolle

2013-2015 | Chryss Yost

2011-2013 | Paul Willis

2009-2011 | David Starkey

2007-2009 | Perie Longo

2005-2007 | Barry Spacks

In July 2018, three of our Past Poets Laureate traveled to Ireland! Learn more about their adventure.

Image by David BazemoreLeft to right: Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate; Enid Osborn, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate; Perie Longo, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate; Chryss Yost, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate; Tracy K. Smith, United States P…

Poets Emeriti with U.S. Poet Laureate. Photo credit: David Bazemore

Left to right: Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, Enid Osborn, Perie Longo, Chryss Yost, Tracy K. Smith (United States Poet Laureate Emerita), David Starkey, Paul Willis, and Phil Taggart (Ventura County Poet Laureate Emeritus).