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Arts4MC Announces Marie Boucher is the 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).

###

24600 Silver Cloud Court, Ste. 202, Monterey, CA 93940 | 831-622-9060 | Arts4mc.Org

ArtWorks @Salinas | 262 Main Street, Salinas, CA 93901

The Arts Council for Monterey County champions the arts to enrich our community

- through education, healing programs and support for local creatives, nonprofits and cultural organizations.

Arts Council for Monterey County (Arts4MC) is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all residents in our region

through the arts. We provide a variety of ways to make art more accessible to everyone, including but not limited to

providing Arts Education programs through schools and community organizations, offering business resources for artists and

nonprofits through BusinessWorks, creating studio and public art spaces for local artists by Curating Public Exhibitions and

via ArtWorks, awarding Scholarships, and providing Grant Funding to individual artists and nonprofits for community

programs and events related to arts and culture. To learn more, visit arts4mc.org

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