Colorado’s 11th Poet Laureate: Crisosto Apache
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Colorado Humanities is thrilled to share the news that Crisosto Apache is the new Colorado Poet Laureate, appointed by Governor Polis on January 28, 2026. |
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Crisosto Apache is a recipient of the Montalvo Arts Center’s Lucas Artists Fellowship, a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, and a board member for The Offing Magazine. Originally from Mescalero, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Crisosto is Mescalero, Chiricahua (Chair-a-cow-ah), and Diné (De-neh), with maternal and paternal clanships in the Salt Clan and Towering House Clan. Apache holds an MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and serves as an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Crisosto’s publications include the out-of-print collection Order Cristoso’s books by clicking on the covers below.
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Colorado Poet Laureate Engagement Request
To request Crisosto’s appearance or participation at an event, please fill out the Request Form. Due to high demand, we recommend making requests two months in advance. We can assist with finding a venue if needed (email us at poetlaureate@coloradohumanities.org). While financial contributions are much appreciated and directly support the Poet Laureate, they are not required. Funding is provided by Colorado Creative Industries and Colorado Humanities.
Begin Where You Are: The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology
Begin Where You Are: The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology, featuring works by all ten of Colorado’s Poets Laureate, including some new poems from the late Andrea Gibson. Spearheaded by award-winning social entrepreneur Turner Wyatt, this book is a movement with a mission: A portion of the proceeds will fund poetry programming in underserved Colorado schools, libraries, and rural areas, making each purchase an investment in expanding access to this essential art form.
Buy a copy
History of the Position
Colorado became one of the first states to have a Poet Laureate when Governor Oliver Shoup appointed Alice Polk Hill in 1919. Since then, nine additional Coloradans have served: Nellie Burget Miller (1923-1952), Margaret Clyde Robertson (1952-1954), Milford E. Shields (1954), Thomas Hornsby Ferril (1979-1988), Mary Crow (1996-2010), David Mason (2010-2014), Joseph Hutchison (2014-2019), Bobby LeFebre (2019-2023); and Andrea Gibson (2023-2025).
The Poet Laureate represents and celebrates the breadth, history, and stories of the land currently known as Colorado, recognizing that this history includes the experiences of a range of peoples who have called the region home. The Poet Laureate serves as an active advocate for poetry, literacy, literature, the arts, and the humanities by participating in readings, workshops, and other events at schools, libraries, community hubs, and literary festivals across our state. The 2026 selection was a collaborative partnership between Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, Colorado Creative Industries, and The Word: A Storytelling Sanctuary.
Partners
Colorado Humanities, home of the Colorado Center for the Book, works to inspire a love of reading and writing, encourage the exploration of ideas, and deepen appreciation for Colorado’s cultural heritage. Through dialogue, storytelling, and strong community partnerships, we strengthen the public humanities and help ensure that cultural resources are preserved and shared for generations to come. An independent 501(c)3 nonprofit, Colorado Humanities is affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Library of Congress Center for the Book, and the Smithsonian Institution. To learn more, visit coloradohumanities.org.
Colorado Creative Industries is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of Colorado Creative Industries is to promote, support, and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs, and enhance our quality of life. oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-creative-industries
Assisting with the processes for the 11th Poet Laureate, The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary is a Colorado-based nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to explore and build collective models for writing, publishing, and bookselling, through programs that provide concrete tools and knowledge; build intentional community; and increase visibility for literary creatives. Programs include the Editor-Writer Mentorship, [margins.] Literary Conference, #MarginsBookselling, Word Unbound storytelling workshops, and a host of community engagement programs. The Word is a recipient of a Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Arts & Culture. For more details about The Word and its program offerings, please visit https://www.thewordfordiversity.org/.
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