Past Poet Laureate - Diane Meyer Lowman

WESTPORT CT: The Westport Arts Advisory Committee appointed our first Poet Laureate for the Town of Westport., Diane Meyer Lowman. She was our first Poet Laureate and served from from 2019-2022

Diane Meyer Lowman, a graduate of Middlebury College who recently received her M.A. in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute at the University of Birmingham, U.K., will begin her two-year term on July 1, 2019. Her memoir, “Nothing But Blue,” was published in November 2018 by She Writes Press and her work has appeared in “O” The Oprah Magazine, Brain Child, CT Bard’s Southwest Review, Shakespeare (Journal) and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Blog. Her “My Life on the Post Road” column appears in Hamlet Hub (Books, Inc.) and has received awards from the CT Press Club.

First Selectman Jim Marpe notes that, “Having a Poet Laureate is a long overdue acknowledgement of the importance of the written word to Westport’s artistic and cultural heritage. Diane Lowman is a wonderful first choice for this new role, and brings genuine excitement, energy and poetic background to it. Many thanks to the Westport Arts Advisory Committee for creating and filling this position.”

Diane Lowman received word of her appointment on Thursday, June 20 and participated in the Westport Library’s grand re-opening celebration on June 23, sharing a haiku of her own and a favorite poem by Charles Simic reflecting on the importance of libraries. “I feel so enthusiastic about the potential to create connections and community through this program. It is my delight and honor to serve as the town poet,“ said Lowman.

T