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Norwalk board introduces Catherine Snyder as new poet laureate
Summary
At its March 13 meeting the Norwalk Public Library Board of Directors introduced Catherine Snyder as the city’s new poet laureate; Snyder described her local arts work and upcoming public events.
The Norwalk Public Library Board of Directors introduced Catherine Snyder as Norwalk’s new poet laureate during its March 13 meeting.
Snyder, who the board identified as a guest at the meeting, told the board she has lived in Norwalk since 2011 and described a range of local and regional literary projects she has led. “I just want to thank you all so, so, so much, for this incredible honor. I’m so excited to fulfill this role,” Snyder said, and described running a weekly livestream series during the COVID-19 pandemic and a monthly open mic that now features poets, musicians and other performers.
The title gives Snyder access to official platforms and events, which she said she plans to use to expand participation and to pair poetry with other art forms. She told the board she is planning a public event on April 12 at Factory Underground and noted an open mic at Eco Evolution on March 20. “I would love to see even more people get involved, and get into poetry and have opportunities to enjoy it and also to combine it with other art forms,” Snyder said.
Sherrell Harris, a board member who introduced Snyder to the meeting, praised her energy and said the board expects Snyder’s appointment to draw younger participants to library programming. Laurel Peterson, identified in the meeting as Norwalk’s first poet laureate, also commended Snyder’s selection and told the meeting she had advocated for her appointment.
The board did not take a separate vote on the appointment during the meeting transcript, which records the introduction and public remarks but does not show a formal adoption vote recorded on the transcript.
Snyder noted she has published a book (first book published in 2019) and is working on a second manuscript. She said past collaborations have combined poetry with visual art and music and that she intends to pursue similar projects in her role as poet laureate.
The board and Snyder encouraged the public to attend Snyder’s upcoming events at Factory Underground and Eco Evolution; dates and times she mentioned are April 12 (Factory Underground) and March 20 (Eco Evolution open mic).
