Salem Poet Laureate

J.D. Scrimgeour, a Salem State University professor, has been selected as Salem’s inaugural Poet Laureate.

The Poet Laureate program operates similarly to the City of Salem’s Artist-in-Residence initiative and this inaugural term will last for two years, beginning January 1, 2025. This timeline aligns with Salem's upcoming 400th anniversary in 2026, with the second year of Scrimgeour’s term occurring over that commemorative year. The Poet Laureate will conduct three to five public readings and workshops each year during his term, and also participate in other community and school engagements through the next two years.

J.D. Scrimgeour is a Professor of English at Salem State University and the author of five poetry collections, including The Last Miles and Banana Bread. His work has appeared in esteemed publications like Poetry and Ploughshares. A dedicated advocate for the arts, he helped establish the Massachusetts Poetry Festival in Salem and directs the Salem Poetry Seminar, helping future poets.

See Also

"Salem names its first official poet laureate" Salem News, Oct. 25, 2024.