Flanagan, town’s fourth poet laureate will continue her tenure through June 2026.
Since 2015, Arlington’s poet laureate (an individual hired by the town to promote local literacy and the arts) has held their position for a maximum of two years. Jean Flanagan, Arlington’s fourth poet laureate since 2023, is now extending her tenure until June 30, 2026, according to an email from Lidia Kenig Scher, chair of the poet laureate committee.
This decision was announced by the committee Monday, April 28, just three months since applications seeking the fifth poet laureate had closed. Flangan’s term was supposed to conclude this summer, and her successor was to start their term July 1.
According to the committee’s agenda archives, the fifth poet laureate had been selected back in February and was awaiting approval from the Select Board, which came April 7. April 11, the town released the announcement to residents via email that the fifth laureate was named and a celebratory event was scheduled to take place this June.
But the poet laureate committee’s agenda for its April 24 meeting included a discussion and vote regarding the new poet laureate’s letter of resignation. There was also a scheduled vote regarding extending Flangan’s term for one year, as well as a discussion on the process and timeline for reopening the application for the next poet laureate.
Town Meeting, in its first session on April 28, approved a measure to allow a non-resident to be the poet laureate, as requested by the poet laureate committee.
“Ms. Flanagan has many notable accomplishments since her term began in January 2023, such as steering the publication and successful sale of ‘The Silver Note,’ an anthology that highlights the impressive poetic talent in Arlington, and beautifully complements the 250th anniversary celebration of the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord, long considered to have started the American revolution,” Scher wrote in her email.
Those looking to learn more about the poet laureate, including information on who has fulfilled the role since 2015 as well as details about its committee, can read about it here >>
Dec. 8, 2024: Poet laureate Flanagan reflects on her poetry, influences, hopes
Oct. 7, 2024: Applications for Arlington’s next poet laureate open through January
This news announcement, based on information from the town website, poet laureate committee agendas and YourArlington’s files, was published April 29, 2025.
