Costa Mesa has appointed poet and educator Danielle Hanson as its first-ever Poet Laureate. Announced in a news release on Monday, the two-year position is part of the city’s effort to enhance its reputation as the “City of the Arts.”
Hanson, a part-time instructor at UC Irvine’s School of Humanities, will bring poetry to city-sponsored events and creative programs. She will also produce original works and lead workshops, all while receiving an annual stipend of $2,500.
Mayor John Stephens praised the new role, saying, “Poetry is an important literary art form that provides a wonderful complement to the city’s exciting performing and visual arts.”
A Life Devoted to Poetry
Hanson’s journey to this position began in 2016 when she left a corporate communications job in Atlanta to focus on poetry. Over the next six years, she worked as a volunteer editor at literary journals and publishing companies, saw her own poetry published, and eventually secured her current teaching role at UC Irvine.
She has authored two poetry collections, Ambushing Water (2017) and Fraying Edge of Sky (2018), with a third book in progress.
Despite acknowledging that poetry is rarely a full-time career, Hanson has built a life centered around verse. “The curse, and also the blessing, of writing poetry is you’re absolutely never going to make a living doing this,” she said in an interview on Monday.
Bringing Poetry to the Public
Costa Mesa arts specialist Laurette Garner, who helped select Hanson, emphasized the need for someone independent and self-motivated to lead the city’s new program. “We weren’t sure what we were looking for because it was a new program, but across the board, everyone liked Danielle,” she said.
Hanson, who studied poetry as an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before earning master’s degrees in creative writing and applied mathematics, is already brainstorming ways to engage the community. She envisions hosting poetry readings in local parks and organizing “poetryoke” sessions, where people recite famous works in an open mic format.
“I know there are people who would love poetry if they just interacted with it,” Hanson said. “So how do we get it out there where people already are?”
A Growing Trend in Literary Arts
Costa Mesa joins other cities in appointing poets laureate to promote literary arts. Orange County launched a countywide program in 2021, selecting Natalie J. Graham for a two-year term. Gustavo Hernandez currently holds the position.
Other municipalities have taken similar steps. Laguna Beach named Kate Buckley its Poet Laureate in 2017. Though the program has since evolved into various artist grants, it marked an early step in the city’s commitment to supporting writers.
While Anaheim has a Poet Laureate program, neighboring cities like Huntington Beach and Newport Beach do not currently have one.
Hanson, an Irvine resident, was eligible for the Costa Mesa role after the city opened applications to published poets across Orange County.
“At its best, a poet laureate position is like a cheerleader for poetry out in the community,” she said. “That’s how I approach it.”
Related topics: