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Delaware Division of the Arts

Poets Laureate

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Delaware’s Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by, and serving at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Poet Laureate serves as an advocate, educator, and presenter of poetry throughout the state.

The Delaware Division of the Arts promotes the Poet Laureate’s events and activities and manages the Poet Laureate’s calendar of appearances. The Division also provides a stipend to the Poet Laureate for appearances at nonprofit organizations.

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Meet the Delaware Poets Laureate

Governor Jack Markell appointed the Twin Poets, Representative Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha and Albert Mills, as 17th Poets Laureate of the State of Delaware on December 13, 2015.

Invite the Poets

About the Program

History

  • 1947
    Delaware General Assembly passes a resolution authorizing an annual appointment by the Governor of a Poet Laureate for the State of Delaware. No specific duties were assigned to the position at that time.
  • 1964
    An act to create the honorary office of Poet Laureate for the State of Delaware was passed by the General Assembly. The act authorized the Governor to appoint an individual to serve a two-year term and perform duties as requested by the Governor.
  • 1970
    The 1964 act authorizes the Governor to appoint the Poet Laureate for a two-year term, performing duties as requested by the Governor and the Secretary of State.
  • 2000
    A new bill passed in June to replace the two-year term limit of service with an open-ended, honorary position that serves at the pleasure of the Governor.
  • Present
    Since 1947, the State of Delaware has had sixteen (16) Poets Laureate.

Duties

  • Promoting the importance of poetry and the literary arts as part of Delaware’s cultural heritage
  • Speaking at such official state functions as the opening of state legislative sessions, the Governor’s Awards for the Arts, conferences, and public ceremonies
  • Presenting readings and poetry discussions in educational settings and community events across the state
  • Developing poetry programming and presentation opportunities in collaboration with the Division of the Arts to support the Division’s program goals

Previous Poets Laureate

Delaware’s Poet Laureate program has celebrated the power of poetry since 1947. Click below to discover the history of the poets who have held this distinguished role.