Gov. Pritzker Announces New Illinois Poet Laureate

SPRINGFIELD- Governor JB Pritzker, alongside the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), Illinois Humanities and the Poetry Foundation, will announce Mark Turcotte as the newest Illinois Poet Laureate. Turcotte, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band Anishinaabe, is a published poet and author who currently serves as Poet-in-Residence at DePaul University. The announcement also commemorates the term of outgoing Poet Laureate Angela Jackson, who has served in the role since 2020 as the fifth Illinois Poet Laureate. April represents National Poetry Month.

“Mark Turcotte’s work reflects the complex and beautiful landscape of both our state and the country as a whole through his unique perspective as a Native writer who has lived across the US but has found a home here in Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I congratulate him on his appointment as the sixth Illinois Poet Laureate and also extend my gratitude to outgoing Poet Laureate Angela Jackson on her years of service in this role.”

"Congratulations to Mark Turcotte for being named our newest Illinois Poet Laureate and to our outgoing Laureate Angela Jackson. Illinois has a long tradition of supporting the work of artists and in these uncertain times, we often look to art to bridge divides and renew our shared sense of humanity,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “I look forward to the ways Mark's poetry will create space for reflection, inspire hope, and draw us closer to one another."

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Angela Jackson for her years of service as Poet Laureate and welcome Mark Turcotte to the extraordinary group of poets who have held the role,” said First Lady MK Pritzker. “I’m looking forward to the inspiration and innovation that Mark will bring to the job and the incredible art that will come of it.”

The announcement is the highlight of a celebration of Illinois Arts and Culture that also recognizes the 60^th anniversary of the Illinois Arts Council and includes the announcement of the newly formed Illinois Creative Caucus, a bipartisan convening of Illinois legislators who will identify, promote, and pass legislation and appropriations that strengthen our state’s creative economy. Caucus members will receive briefings on current policy issues affecting the arts and creative sector, deep dives into best practices from across the state and nation, and presentations on research and findings about the Illinois creative economy and workforce. Members will also be invited to join site visits, convenings, and other events in Springfield and throughout the state.

Convened by Arts Alliance Illinois, the Illinois Creative Caucus is proudly co-chaired by:

Turcotte spent his earliest years on North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation and in the migrant camps of the western United States. Later, he grew up in and around Lansing, Michigan. After arriving in Chicago in the spring of 1993, Turcotte rediscovered his love of words and writing and quickly established himself as a unique voice in the city’s thriving poetry scene. Turcotte is author of the books, The Feathered Heart; Songs of Our Ancestors; a chapbook, Road Noise; a bilingual collection, Le Chant de la Route; and Exploding Chippewas (Northwestern University Press). ​ His work has appeared in many national and international literary journals. In 2008 he completed an MFA in Creative Writing at Western Michigan University. Since 2009, he has been Senior Lecturer and Distinguished-Writer-In-Residence in the English Department at DePaul University.

Angela Jackson, the outgoing Poet Laureate, is an award-winning poet, novelist, and playwright who has published three chapbooks and four volumes of poetry, in addition to appearing in numerous journals and anthologies. In recognition of her selection of as Illinois' Poet Laurate, the Illinois State Senate passed SR142, celebrating November 25, 2021 as Angela Jackson Day.

"In celebration of Poetry Month, this announcement signifies a momentous occasion as the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) commemorates 60 years of cultivating a strong, creative, and interconnected Illinois through the arts," said IAC Executive Director, Joshua Davis-Ruperto. "In that spirit, we look forward to working with Mark Turcotte whose unique voice will resonate with Illinoisans, inspiring conversations and fostering access to poetry throughout our diverse state.”

"Illinois has long been a home to voices that challenge, inspire, and unite us," said Gabrielle Lyon, Executive Director of Illinois Humanities. "The historic appointment of Mark Turcotte as our next Illinois Poet Laureate extends a powerful tradition. Poetry is an invitation to all of us to connect more deeply with one another within and across our diverse experiences. Illinois Humanities is thrilled to serve as the home base for Mark's work in this new chapter and look forward to the partnership ahead."

“The Poetry Foundation applauds Governor and First Lady Pritzker and Illinois Arts Council Chair Nora Daley for keeping the state’s cultural legacy of celebrating poetry alive in announcing the next Illinois Poet Laureate. The program is one of the most impactful ways to engage Illinoisans with poetry and empowers poets to share the many ways poems can foster hope, bring solace, and help us share joy,” said Poetry Foundation president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone. “We thank outgoing Poet Laureate Angela Jackson for her prolific contributions and service through poetry. We congratulate and look forward to welcoming and supporting Mark Turcotte as the next Illinois Poet Laureate.”

“For the first time in Illinois, we have a caucus that brings together legislative champions of the arts to shape policies, programs, and investments that will drive our creative economy and enrich the lives of every Illinoisan. With the leadership of our inaugural co-chairs, we are building a stronger, more connected, and more creative state,” said Arts Alliance Illinois Executive Director Claire Rice.

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