Gov. Andy Beshear hosts annual Kentucky Writer’s Day

WNKY Staff,
Beshear Writers Day

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear hosted the annual Kentucky Writer’s Day Tuesday in celebration of Kentucky Writer Robert Penn Warren, the country’s first Poet Laureate.

The celebration normally takes place on or around April 24, which is Warren’s birthday. The ceremony included Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson, leaders from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Beechwood High School freshman Lupita Diaz and former poets laureate of Kentucky.

“I am thrilled not just to be in person today to celebrate Kentucky’s literary heritage, but to be in the company of such an esteemed group of our commonwealth’s most celebrated writers,” said Beshear. “Kentucky is a stronger, richer, more interesting and more connected place because of them.”

The Writer’s Day celebration was established in 1990 to honor the birth of Warren and to induct the poet laurate during odd-numbered years. Wilkinson, a multiple award-winning novelist and poet from Lexington, was chosen by Beshear and serves as the 2021-22 Kentucky Poet Laureate.

“Our cabinet is honored to join Gov. Beshear in hosting this annual event that celebrates literary arts in Kentucky for the first time since 2019,” said Mike Berry, the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary. “This year’s ceremony is especially significant and represents the first in-person celebration featuring Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson.”

Wilkinson is the first Black woman to be appointed as poet laureate in the commonwealth’s history.

“It certainly continues to be an honor to represent the state’s legacy of arts and letters as poet laureate, and I’m grateful that we can once again gather in person to celebrate Kentucky Writers’ Day,” said Wilkinson. “Events like this help to emphasize to our youth in Kentucky how important literacy and literary events are to our commonwealth.”

 

GUIDE: How to Watch WNKY News 40 Broadcasts >

Download WNKY News 40 Apps

The Latest