Writers are invited to contribute to public art in Whistler through the annual Poet’s Pause competition this spring.

Each year, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) invites writers to submit original, unpublished poems for the Poet’s Pause poetry competition. Winning poems will be displayed at the Poet’s Pause sculpture sites in Alta Lake Park – specifically the large metal chimes art pieces titled Lost in Sound at the north part of the park, and the giant Adirondack chairs titled Lakeside Couple in the south end of the park.

“The Resort Municipality of Whistler is a proud champion of the art community, and supports emerging and established artists in a variety of mediums through our public art program,” said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton. “Public art creates a rich resort experience and inspires creative conversations and thought. The Poet’s Pause poetry competition has a long history in Whistler and has helped showcase the work of local writers.”

The winning poems will receive a prize of $200 each and be read at a council meeting in April as part of National Poetry Month.

Poet’s Pause is part of a public art concept created by the late Joan Baron, an artist who developed the two Alta Lake Park sculpture sites with the intention of inspiring creativity.

The public can submit poems for one or both display sites. Poems should respond to the themes of the two sculpture sites: the theme for the large metal chimes is listening, and the theme for the giant Adirondack chairs is togetherness. Poems can be of any type and format and should be no longer than 240 words.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 3 p.m.

To submit a poem, email resortexperience@whistler.ca.

Full details are available at whistler.ca/poetrycompetition.