Calling all poets: The Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting applications for the city’s sixth poet laureate. The selected laureate will receive a $2,000 stipend and be expected to support and advance Tacoma’s literary community in a variety of ways over the two-year term.

Duties include participating in Tacoma Arts Month each October, leading workshops or presentations, giving readings or performances, or producing publications and other projects. The laureate is also responsible for producing the announcement ceremony for the 2017 laureate.

Tacoma’s current poet laureate is spoken word artist Lucas Smiraldo, who has led workshops, organized a performance/open mic series at B Sharp Coffee House, and created an online aural poetry map of the city, among other projects. Previous laureates include William Kupinse and Josie Emmons Turner; the program was founded in 2008.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. March 2. Applicants must live in Pierce County, be at least 18 years old, and be practicing literary artists engaged in Tacoma’s creative community. There is a free workshop for applicants from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market St., ninth floor, Visibility Center) to address questions about the application and selection process.

The new poet laureate will be announced at a poetry event at 6 p.m. May 1 at B Sharp Coffee House, 706 Court C, Tacoma.

To apply, visit cityoftacoma.org/poet or contact Naomi Strom-Avila at 253-591-5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org.