Shone Thistle named Calgary Poet Laureate
MEDIA RELEASE
April 30, 2024
For immediate release
(Calgary AB) – Calgary Arts Development and the Calgary Poet Laureate selection committee are pleased to announce the appointment of Shone Thistle as the 2024–2026 Calgary Poet Laureate. The position was formally announced in Council Chambers at Calgary City Hall today, to mark the end of National Poetry Month.
“The Poet Laureate program is a wonderful way to reflect our city and its citizens through the power of words and language,” says Patti Pon, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “We thank Wakefield Brewster for his term from 2022–2024. Wakefield’s passion, power and performance prowess make him a poet who resonates and transforms, and we know he will continue to make his mark for years to come.
“It is an absolute pleasure to welcome Shone Thistle as Calgary’s Poet Laureate for 2024–2026. Shone has an impressive list of artistic and community achievements. Known for their generosity of spirit, Shone is able to connect deeply with audiences whether through written or spoken word. We look forward to experiencing Shone’s work as Poet Laureate over the next two years.”
“Poetry is like a sixth sense; it’s how I explore the world around me and how I find my place in it,” says Shone Thistle. “The awkward, Queer, latchkey kid in me would never believe they were being recognized so publicly for their way of being in the world. I’m not sure I believe it, but best be sure, I am going to let this honour sink deep into my bones and I will write from that place as my tribute to those who’ve come before me. Thank you.”
Shone Thistle is an author, poet and multidisciplinary artist. Their work ranges from radio to jazz ensemble, festival to conference keynote, inner-city cabaret to gallery by the sea. In the world of competitive poetry, they’ve received perfect scores at the renowned Nuyorican Poets Café. They recently wrote, produced and collaborated on Nipiy I’aoue Water We, a sound art installation and cabaret performance for Arts Commons.
Shone’s writing can be found in several anthologies, including Mic Check: An Anthology of Canadian Spoken Word Poetry, and YYC POP: Poetic Portraits of the People. When Shone’s not writing or making other art, they are proudly serving their community as Executive Director of Calgary Queer Arts Society..
Further information on Shone Thistle can be found at: www.shonethistle.ca and www.instagram.com/shonethistle/.
About the Calgary Poet Laureate
On July 26, 2011, City Council approved a motion to establish a Calgary Poet Laureate position, funded by a group of Calgary Poet Laureate Ambassadors. The program is currently supported by Calgary Foundation and Calgary Public Library. Calgary Arts Development administers the program in conjunction with a volunteer selection committee, which appoints each Calgary Poet Laureate for a two-year term. The Calgary Poet Laureate is intended to be an artistic ambassador for Calgary, presenting at civic events and producing literary works that reflect our city and its citizens.
About National Poetry Month
Each April the League of Canadian Poets celebrates National Poetry Month. This year’s theme is WEATHER. To find out more, visit here. Established in 1966, the League of Canadian Poets is a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting poets, building poetic communities, supporting inclusive and equitable free expression, and promoting Canadian poets and poetry.
About Calgary Arts Development
As the city’s designated arts development authority, Calgary Arts Development supports and strengthens the arts to benefit all Calgarians. We invest and allocate municipal funding for the arts provided by The City of Calgary and leverage these funds to provide additional resources to the arts sector. Our programs support hundreds of arts organizations, individual artists, artist collectives, and ad hoc groups in Calgary.
calgaryartsdevelopment.com
Learn more about the new Calgary Poet Laureate here.
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Further Information
Helen Moore-Parkhouse
Director, Communications, Calgary Arts Development
Phone: (office) 403.264.5330 ext. 102; (mobile) 587.227.0150
Email: helen.moore-parkhouse@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
