Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate

The concept of the position of Martha’s Vineyard Poet Laureate (MV Poet Laureate) was formally initiated in 2011 by the Martha’s Vineyard Poetry Society. This was the first time in Martha’s Vineyard history that a position was created to designate an island-wide poet laureate. On similar note, the Martha’s Vineyard Poetry Society (MVPS) is the first island-wide poetry organization with membership in the history of Martha’s Vineyard. MVPS was founded in 2008 by island poet/author/musician, William Waterway.

The Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society (MVPS) is composed of a group of approximately 410 island poets and supporters who seek to enhance the presence of poetry on the Vineyard and throughout the world. The purpose of Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society’s is to promote poetry on Martha's Vineyard through education and through the support of existing and new poetry groups. It is the organization’s hope that through elevation of poetry in people's lives and consciousness – it will facilitate a positive contribution to Martha’s Vineyard culture and life styles.

Over the years, MVPS has sponsored and hosted free public poetry events such as: "Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate" celebration gatherings; “Summer Solstice In Poetry and Song” held at Featherstone Center for the Arts; "Winter Solstice in Poetry and Song" held at the Vineyard Haven Public Library; “A Gathering of Island Poets and Musicians” – a four-hour MVTV television production broadcast “live” via Comcast to the island community; “Martha’s Vineyard Poem in Your Pocket Day (MVPIYPD)”, held in conjunction with National Poem in Your Pocket (PIYP) day; the Gay Head Lighthouse poetry book project that published Lighthouse Legacy; “Civil War Poetry” at the Vineyard Haven Public Library with support from the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and, many other poetry programs on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

Martha's Vineyard plays host to a strong and vibrant community of poets and clusters of poetry groups. Besides the resident year-round poets, the island enjoys seasonal presentations by many renowned poets, including United States Poets Laureate.

The position of MV Poet Laureate was presented to the public by the 431-member Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society in July, 2012. Prior to this, there never was a designated Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate throughout the island's history. To accomplish the task of designating the island's first MV Poet Laureate, the Martha's Vineyard Poetry Society's founder, William Waterway, created a double-blind election process that precluded politicking, lobbying, or collusion.

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