The Art of Spoken Word
The Monterey County Poet Laureate is an honorary position that celebrates the county’s rich literary and cultural heritage by promoting poetry and creative expression throughout the community. Managed by Arts4MC, this program underscores the Council’s commitment to fostering creativity, literacy, and cultural vibrancy in the region.
Through a competitive application and evaluation process by a panel of literary experts, and approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Poet Laureate is selected to serve a two-year term. During this time, they inspire the community with public readings, workshops, and projects that highlight the transformative power of poetry.
2026 - 2027 Monterey County Poet Laureate
[MONTEREY COUNTY, CA. DECEMBER 9, 2025] The Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) is delighted to introduce Marie Boucher aka Marie Butcher—poet, educator, peace advocate, and naturalist—as the 2026 – 2027 Monterey County Poet Laureate. Boucher officially steps into this prestigious role on January 1, 2026, serving a two-year term through December 2027.
This honorary role celebrates the county’s rich cultural heritage and promotes literacy and literature throughout the community. As part of her tenure, Boucher is responsible for championing the art of poetry and creative expression, including through public readings, workshops, and undertaking a significant signature community project. She will receive a $5,000 honorarium, funded by Arts4MC, for her service.
“The Poet Laureate program is part of our mission to champion the arts to enrich the lives of our community,” said Jacquie Atchison, Executive Director of Arts4MC. “Poetry is one of many art forms, and we look forward to the creative energy and community outreach Marie will bring to the roles, especially her focus on connecting us with the natural world and each other.”
The selection process was highly competitive, involving a comprehensive application and nomination period. Candidates were then subject to thorough evaluation by a panel of esteemed literary experts, consisting of Janice Rock, Garland Thompson, Jr., Rachelle Escamilla, Jesus Valenzuela Felix, and Nura Agzamova-Turek.
This morning, the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors presented a resolution to Boucher officially recognizing and honoring her as the next Monterey County Poet Laureate. The recognition took place at the Board of Supervisors meeting held at the Government Center Building in Salinas after Boucher read two personal poems, “We Are But Guests” and “To the Children of This Land”.
More about Marie Boucher aka Marie Butcher:
Marie Boucher is the Assistant Professor and Program Head for English for Academic and Professional Purposes at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She is a prominent literary figure in the area, known for co-leading the annual International Poetry Week and monthly International Poetry Gatherings in Monterey. Her poems, which revolve around themes of our integral relationship with the natural world and all beings, have been featured in the Monterey Poetry Review, Porter Gulch Review, Poet’s Choice, and Solo Novo. She is also the Editor-in-Chief for the upcoming multilingual anthology Doves Born of Flames: Poems of Resilience from Many Lands (2026).
