Creative Copy is the Wisconsin Arts Board's bi-weekly newsletter distributing relevant information and important resources to artists and arts organizations in Wisconsin. If you think we missed something, or if you have a question, email vivienne.timchenko@wisconsin.gov, and if you haven't yet, make sure to subscribe to the Wisconsin Arts News and Creative Copy!
Photo features One Becoming Another by Allan Crawford located at State Patrol Academy, Fort McCoy. This piece was funded through Wisconsin's Percent for Art Program.
Poet laureate programs exist at national, state, and local levels, and promote poetry while engaging communities through literary arts.
The Wisconsin Poet Laureate program was originally created by an executive order of Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson in 2000. Ellen Kort was named the state's inaugural poet laureate, serving from 2001 - 2004. After the $2,000 annual budget for the laureateship was eliminated by Governor Scott Walker, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters announced its stewardship of the program to ensure its continuation. Today, the position of Wisconsin Poet Laureate is sustained through individual donations and financial support from member organizations, including the Wisconsin Arts Board. Brenda Cárdenas is the state's current poet laureate, serving from 2025 - 2027. Read more on the history of the program on the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission website.
Wisconsin is home to a statewide program, 9 county and city programs, and 2 youth programs. Find more information on each program below, along with an interactive map showing where the state's poet laureate programs are located.
Special thanks to the folks at poets.org for pulling together much of this information.
State Poet Laureate
Wisconsin Poet Laureate
In 2000, Wisconsin established a state poet laureate position, which is currently held by Brenda Cárdenas, who was appointed through December, 2027.
City and County Poets Laureate
In 2025, Cathryn Cofell-Mutschler was appointed the inaugural poet laureate of Appleton.
The City of Appleton is currently accepting applications for the next poet laureate, who will serve a two year term throughout 2026-2028. Applications must be received by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026.
Carrie and Peter Sherrill serve as poets laureate of Door County through 2027.
In 2025, Shelly Conley was named the poet laureate of Milwaukee through 2026.
Steven Espada Dawson was named poet laureate of Madison, Wisconsin, in 2024. Dawson will serve a two-year term.
Ted Gephart served as the poet laureate of Bayfield, Wisconsin, through 2025.
Anneliese Finke was named the second Sheboygan Poet Laureate on January 19, 2026.
In 2025, Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee was appointed the second poet laureate Wausau, Wisconsin. She will serve a two-year term.
In 2025, the Kenosha/Racine Poets Laureate Program appointed Nico Moore as the Kenosha poet laureate and both Thomas Carr and Mary Skillings as the co-Racine poets laureate. Each will serve a two-year term.
In 2026, Miriam Brabham was appointed the inaugural poet laureate of Green Bay. Brabham will serve through December 2027.
Youth Poets Laureate
Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate
Angela Wang, a senior at University School of Milwaukee, is the 2025-2026 Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate.
Madison Youth Poet Laureate
Madison's Youth Poet Laureate for 2025-2026 is Octavia Ikard.
The City of Madison is currently accepting applications for the next youth poet laureate, who will serve a one year term throughout 2026-2027. Applications must be received by 2:00 PM on April 30th, 2026.