Art and democracy don't have to be separate.

Who We Are

The Poet Populist Program supports creative public thinking, articulate leadership, and the practice of democracy. It proposes that artists can be part of the civic discourse, and that the civic discourse can be artistically inclined. It also gives dozens of arts organizations a chance to reach out to new audiences city-wide.

The program was founded by City Council President Nick Licata in 1999, and is supported by resolution of the Seattle City Council.

It is currently a program of Ampersand Arts and Eleventh Hour Productions, with funding by the City of Seattle. Additional program support is provided by the Seattle Public Library, Bumbershoot®: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival, and the Richard Hugo House.

Want to know more about the origins and mission of the program? Read about it on our background page.

Want to start your own Poet Populist Program? Looking for additional poetry resources? Try our contact page.