Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

Prepared by: John Boyette, Public Affairs Specialist

 

For more information: Arts Commission, 919-996-3610

 

July 18, 2012

 

Piedmont Laureate Issues Call for Authors of Children’s Literature

 

The Piedmont Laureate program is accepting applications from authors of children’s literature for 2013. Authors must be residents of Alamance, Durham, Orange or Wake counties; and the literature must be targeted to children up to age 9. The deadline to apply is Sept. 28.

         The primary goal of the Piedmont Laureate program is "to promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region." The program is dedicated to building a literary bridge for residents to come together and celebrate the art of writing, enriching the lives of all our citizens. The laureate program focuses each year on a different literary form. The 2011 Piedmont Laureate was creative non-fiction writer Scott Huler; the current Laureate is dramatist Ian Finley.

 

“The Piedmont Laureate program is a great way to showcase the region's literary talent,” said Sarah Powers, executive director of Raleigh’s Visual Art Exchange. “The program is also a great way for us to work with the other arts councils and organizations in the area.”

 

The 2013 Piedmont Laureate will be selected by a committee appointed by the sponsoring agencies. The Laureate will receive a stipend of $6,500 and serve for one year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013). Activities of the laureate will include presenting readings and workshops, encouraging creative writing, and promoting literature at public events. 

  

The Piedmont Laureate 2013 program sponsors are Alamance County Arts Council, City of Raleigh Arts Commission, Durham Arts Council, Orange County Arts Commission, and United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County.

 

Additional information on the Piedmont Laureate program, including guidelines and the application form, is available at www.piedmontlaureate.com or on the websites of the sponsoring agencies. The City of Raleigh Arts Commission can be found on the City’s website at www.raleighnc.gov/arts. For more information, contact Belva Parker, program director for the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, at 919-996-3610 or belva.parker@raleighnc.gov.

 

Established in 1977 as the official advisory body and advocate for the arts to the Raleigh City Council, the City of Raleigh Arts Commission holds the distinction of being the first municipal arts commission created in North Carolina. Serving as the leading force to champion the arts with Raleigh citizens and their representatives, the Arts Commission’s myriad activities foster, support and promote the arts in the Capital City.