Poetry and the Arts

Montana Finds a Poet Laureate

By Allen M. Jones, 7-13-05

Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer today announced his appointment of Sandra Alcosser as Montana’s first poet laureate. “The arts are an important part of Montana,� said Governor Schweitzer. “Our heritage, our lives and our unique way of life in this great state are often expressed through poetry. This is a unique opportunity to bring poetry to the people of Montana. Alcosser has a strong commitment to promoting poetry and writing around Montana. It is an honor to have Sandra Alcosser as Montana’s first poet laureate.�

Alcosser’s professional experience includes Poet in Residence for the Central Park Zoo, Poets House New York, the Director of the International Summer Writers Program at the National University of Ireland and the Director of the Creative Writing Program at San Diego State University. She has a bachelor’s of arts in English literature and creative writing from Purdue University and master’s of fine arts from the University of Montana. She is currently the Poetry Editor for Parabola Magazine based in New York City. Alcosser has received numerous awards including the Larry Levis Prize by Virgina Commonwealth University and Pacific Northwest Booksellers William Stafford Poetry Award. Her poems include: What Makes The Grizzlies Dance and Approaching August. She has published seven books of her works and been featured in numerous other books, magazines and journals.

The Montana Poet Laureate recognizes and honors a citizen poet of exceptional talent and accomplishment. The Poet Laureate's role is to encourage appreciation of poetry and literary life in Montana by giving readings and presentations throughout the state, making poetry available to a wide state audience. The Montana Poet Laureate position was established by the Montana legislature in 2005.

In her nomination form for the position, Ms. Alcosser stated, "As Montana's first poet laureate, it would be a pleasure to braid Montana's literary history and spirit into the welcoming corners of the state. As Montana's poet, I would also identify and work with a diverse corps of state poets to celebrate, throughout public readings and conversations, the incredible wealth of our state's literary resources."

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