The Washington State Poet Laureate builds awareness and appreciation of poetry through public readings, workshops, lectures, and presentations. Laureates perform this work in culturally and geographically diverse communities throughout the state. The Washington State Poet Laureate program is jointly sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) and Humanities Washington.
Meet Derek Sheffield
Celebrated poet and professor Derek Sheffield is Washington’s eighth State Poet Laureate. Sheffield lives in the Wenatchee Valley and serves as a professor of English at Wenatchee Valley College. He has published several poetry collections and edits poetry for Terrain.org, and has also received fellowships from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, Artist Trust, the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, and the Spring Creek Foundation for his poetry. He took over the role from previous Laureate Arianne True.
Interested in hosting Derek Sheffield for a reading, workshop, or other event?
📅 Upcoming Events
March 7: 2026 Washington State Poetry Out Loud Final Competition
The 2026 Washington State Poetry Out Loud Final Competition will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Winners of this year’s Poetry Forward Competition will also be recognized at this event. Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield will join as a special guest. Free and open to the public.
🌎Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N I Street, Tacoma
📆Saturday, March 7, 2026
⏰1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
March 19: Northwest Voices: Workshop and Reading with Derek Sheffield
Northwest Voices is a collaboration between the Longview Public Library and Lower Columbia College. Join Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield for a workshop at 3 p.m. and a reading at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.
🌎Longview Public Library, 1600 Louisiana Street, Longview
📆Thursday, March 19, 2026
⏰Workshop: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., Reading: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
March 26: Reading at Boston College
Derek Sheffield will be working with students and faculty and giving a reading on campus at Boston College.
🌎Connolly House, Boston College, 300 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
📆Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
March 29: In This Time: A Gathering of Poet Laureates from the West
Join us for a special afternoon featuring state poets laureate from cities and rural communities across the West. Whether you are a lifelong reader of poetry or simply curious, this is a rare opportunity to:
- Hear poetry from nine distinguished Western state poets laureate and writers
- Reflect, connect, and find inspiration in times of uncertainty
- Engage with diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences
🌎Brewery Arts Center, 449 W King St, Carson City, NV
📆Sunday, March 29, 2026
⏰1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
April 8: The Nature of Our Times Reading
🌐 Virtual (Zoom)
📆Wednesday, April 8, 2026
⏰4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Join hosts Krissy Kludt, Nickole Brown, and J. Drew Lanham for this evening of poetry and conversation in celebration of The Nature of Our Times: Poems on America’s Lands, Waters, Wildlife, and Other Natural Wonders, an anthology gathering 210 voices from the arts, ecology, academia, and Indigenous communities from North America giving witness to how nature shapes our lives and how we can shape the future (Paloma Press, 2025).
April 8: Poetry Reading with Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield
Join Gesa Power House Theatre for this free community event. Derek Sheffield will share his work in an evening of inspiration and poetry, followed by a Q & A session. Please RSVP to reserve your spot. Free and open to the public.
🌎Gesa Power House Theatre, 111 N 6th Ave, Walla Walla
📆Wednesday, April 8, 2026
⏰7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
April 10: Canopy Time Walk & Read
An accessible walk/stroll/roll on Plas Newydd Farm, meant to give participants a chance to explore the farm and the changing seasons. Suggested donation of $10, but no one is turned away.
🌎Plas Newydd Farm, 33415 NW Lancaster Rd, Ridgefield
📆Friday, April 10, 2026
⏰10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- The Washington State Legislature passed a bill in 2007 to establish the Washington State Poet Laureate program. The bill recognized the value of poetry to the state’s culture and heritage.
- The Governor appoints the Laureate based on recommendations from a geographically and culturally diverse panel of representatives from Washington’s arts, humanities, and literary communities.
- Once appointed, ArtsWA and Humanities Washington provide funding for the honorarium ($40,000 annually), travel and project expenses, and administrative support for the Laureate.
- The Laureate serves a two-year term. The 2023-2025 Laureate’s term begins May 1, 2023.
Poet Laureate nominations are submitted using an online portal (Submittable).
A geographically and culturally diverse panel of representatives from Washington’s arts, humanities and literary communities score each nomination. The panel identifies finalists (generally up to three) to be interviewed by the panel. These interviews will happen via video conferencing/or in person depending on circumstances at that time. After the interviews, the panel makes a recommendation to the Governor, who appoints at their discretion.
ArtsWA and Humanities Washington staff do not score nominations or make recommendations on candidates during the selection process but do help facilitate the process and answer technical questions.
Rena Priest
Claudia Castro Luna
Tod Marshall
Elizabeth Austen
Kathleen Flenniken
Samuel Green