Mikhayla Robinson Smith is the new Athens-Clarke County Poet Laureate.
She is a poet, author, spoken word artist, and essayist, who has planted roots in Athens. She studied English at the University of Georgia, which allowed her to explore and deepen her understanding of poetics. Her love for poetry and community has driven her desire to make poetic literature more accessible to the people of Athens.
A committee, comprised of local poets, educators, librarians, and arts administrators, reviewed the applications based on the following criteria: excellence in craftsmanship, vision for the position, professional achievement in the field of poetry and a history of actively elevating the visibility of poetry in the community. The Poet Laureate position is a two-year term and all related events and programming will be free and open to the public.
For more information on the Poet Laureate Program, email ACC Public Art Coordinator Tatiana Veneruso at tatiana.veneruso@accgov.com.