“The only thing that is important to me, or that I feel is the best way to teach people about poetry, is to show it to them,” says the city's poet laureate.
The annual budget of a Barrie Poet Laureate can more than quadruple.
City Council members, acting as the Infrastructure and Community Investment Committee, approved a motion Wednesday night to increase total annual spending to $4,250 from $1,000.
It still requires approval by the Common Commission and City Council, which could happen by the end of the month.
Barrie's poet laureate, Tenisha Thomas, says increased funding will make a difference.
“As poet laureate, the only thing that is important to me, or that I feel is the best way to teach people about poetry, is to show them,” she said. “So the additional funding allows me to employ local artists, and I can also put money back into Barrie by supporting the local talent we have here.”
“Hopefully (increased funding) will help get more exposure,” Deputy Mayor Robert Thompson said.
This increase will include raising the Poet Laureate's annual stipend to $2,500 from $1,000, plus an additional $1,500 per year for poetry event(s) or poetry project(s) that will be coordinated and led by the Poet Laureate and pre-approved by the Department of Economic and Creative Development. City – consistent with its goals and those of the Council. Eligible and pre-approved expenses will be reimbursed through the department.
There will also be up to $250 per year in travel expenses related to reimbursement per kilometer at the city rate.
City staff compared Poet Laureate Barry's spending with similar, nearby municipalities such as Collingwood, Kingston, Mississauga and Windsor, and determined the poet laureate's annual salary ranged from $2,350 to $5,000. However, each of these programs has additional roles and responsibilities beyond the current Barry program.
The committee also approved Thompson's proposal to reduce Al-Shaer's term to two years from four years.
Thomas was two minds about the reduction.
“I feel kind of lucky, being the last person to do a four-year term, but I think this kind of work allows you to work harder in a shorter period of time and it will highlight more artists, so at the moment we will have two poet laureates,” she said. award instead of one.
“I am happy with the four-year term I have been given,” Thomas added.
The biennium will begin in 2026.
“Changing the term will give more exposure to more people,” the deputy mayor said. “It provides the opportunity for more poets to be able to showcase different types of poetry and different cultures… in a shorter period.”
The committee also approved his proposal that three City Council members replace the chief librarian, or executive director of the library, the poet laureate from another community, and municipal culture staff, again from another community, on the poet laureate selection committee.
Common program expectations for the Poet Laureate are to create new original works of one to four poems about Barry that can be used as the city sees fit, develop and present poetry workshops, develop a legacy project during their tenure and host literary events.
The poet is asked to appear at the city's major events and celebrations, no fewer than three, at the Barrie Arts Awards, National Poetry Month, and Culture Days.
A summary annual report will also be submitted at the end of each year, during their tenure, outlining activities undertaken in the role of Poet, such as appearances at events, workshops, published works, etc.
Created in 2010, the Bari Poet serves as “a literary ambassador and champion of poetry, language and the arts and through their presence and public readings will deepen the tone and significance of civic occasions.”
Their role is to write, publish and perform poetry, educate the public about the value of poetry and the literary arts, encourage and celebrate other local poets and writers, and promote literacy at all age groups.
Nominations are received every four years for poet laureate, and the outgoing poet laureate must participate in this nomination or selection.
Bruce Meyer was the first poet laureate of the Barry Prize, followed by Damian Lopez, Victoria Butler, and Thomas.
