News: Bristol Arts and Culture Commission Names Poet Laureate
| Date Published |
Author |
| 1/23/2025 12:00:00 AM |
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Bristol Arts and Culture Commission Names Poet Laureate
Bristol, CT – [January 23, 2025] – The Bristol City Arts and Culture Commission is pleased to announce that Tom Lagasse has been named the Arts and Culture Commission’s official Poet Laureate.
Lagasse, who was born in Bristol and has been a resident most of his life, is an internationally published poet whose work can be found both online and in print.
“I don’t view this as an honorary title, but a working one,” Lagasse said. “My goal is to use the title to help build upon a literary community and to further develop Bristol’s existing artistic community.”
Tom is partnering with Creative Jam Art Co. to have a monthly Open Mic Night on the last Wednesday of every month, which would be open not only to writers but to musicians and artists as well. The first Open Mic Night will be on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, with sign-ups at 6:45 PM and the program running from 7:00 - 8:30 PM.
“We are thrilled to have Tom as our Poet Laureate,” expressed Bristol’s Arts and Culture Supervisor, Arianna Therriault. “Our city is on its way to becoming an arts and culture hub and this is going to catapult us to another level with writers and creators having a free space to express themselves.”
Last year, Lagasse was named an Edwin Way Teale Artist in Residence in recognition of his nature poetry. Bristol and baseball are also frequent topics in Lagasse’s poetry. His poem “Open Field” was recognized by the National Baseball Poetry Foundation. He also won the 2025 E. Ethelbert Miller Prize for his poem “My Mother The Shortstop.”
A graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Lagasse, 60, has been writing his entire life. Besides poetry, several of his short stories and articles have been published. He also has edited two books, one memoir, and one volume of poetry.
We encourage the citizens of Bristol to attend the first of many Open Mic Nights at Creative Jam Art Co. located at 650 Riverside Ave., Bristol, on Wednesday, February 26th at 7:00 PM. Additional info can be found on the attached info-graphic.
For questions, please contact Arianna Therriault, Arts and Culture Supervisor, at AriannaTherriault@bristolct.gov or (860) 584 – 6120.