Somerville, home to hundreds of starving artists and a few dozen outlet stores, has decided to get serious about the art of the written and spoken word.

That’s right, Somervillians: if you can prove your residence and provide 20 pages of original poetry, you could be Somerville’s first Poet Laureate.

On Wednesday, the Somerville Arts Council announced the new program. Mayor Joseph Curatone’s selection committee—consisting of local artists Greg Jenkins, Doug Holder, Harris Gardner, and Linda Conte—will be accepting applications until November 17.

Entrants will be judged on four major areas: excellence and craftsmanship as demonstrated by their original works; vision for the position and its role in the community; professional achievement in the world of poetry; and a history of “actively promulgating the visibility of poetry in Somerville’s neighborhoods and literary communities through readings, publications, promotion of events, public presentations and/or workshops and other types of teaching and literary community involvement.’’ An extensive beret collection, incense preferences, goatee grooming, and snapping ability were not listed.


The winner, whose appointment will last two years, will be asked to “support and expand poetry in the city’’ and will receive an honorarium of $2,000 per year.

Upon selection of its first Poet Laureate, Somerville will join the ranks of nearby cities that have or are searching for poets laureate.

Boston appointed its first in 2008, awarding the position to Sam Cornish. Judith Steinbergh was awarded the Brookline post in April 2012. Arlington selectman Joseph Curro Jr. proposed creating an honorary position last January. Cambridge has a “poet populist,’’ which is voted on by residents rather than chosen by the city.

No word on whether or not the cities have planned to assemble a poetry slam to end all slams.