Mesquite arts commission approves poet-laureate program, brochure revisions and new statue; First Fridays and power-box wraps get attention

The Mesquite Public Arts Commission on Nov. 17 approved a Mesquite Poet Laureate program including a junior laureate, signed off on revised public-art brochures and formally accepted a statue proposed through a MORF grant, while spending much of the meeting addressing First Fridays logistics and the condition of public power-box wraps.

The poet-laureate plan was proposed by Commissioner Steve, who said the city should emulate nearby programs and include both an adult laureate and a junior laureate with a small scholarship for the youth position. "I was thinking that we should since Goldfield has a poet laureate, we should have a poet laureate," Steve said, adding the laureates would "represent Mesquite or Virgin Valley" at events and that the positions would be unpaid. Steve moved the motion to create the program; the chair seconded and the motion passed by voice vote (tally not specified).

Why it matters: commissioners said a poet laureate could raise the community profile at arts events across the state and help connect local poets with regional audiences and opportunities.

Commissioners also approved edits to an impact brochure intended for distribution at First Friday events, agreeing to a print run (about 250 copies) so the commission can hand out materials that tell residents and visitors what MPAC does. "It would be really nice to have [brochures] for First Friday to…