Maryland’s Poet Laureate Delayed!
Maryland’s Poet Laureate, Lady Brion will be presenting at the 2025 Victorian Chautauqua.
Maryland’s Poet Laureate, Lady Brion, will be unable to present on Saturday, July 12, due to a scheduling conflict.
Kathy Beachler, the executive director of the Garrett County Art Council, originated the idea of inviting Lady Brion to the festival. The arts organization seeks to build and support a vibrant and sustainable arts community for artists, their audiences, and the community at large. Its focus includes the visual arts, music, theater, dance, literary, and culinary arts.
“I wanted to request an appearance by Lady Brion for Garrett County since she was first appointed by the Governor,” said Beachler. “Her reputation is impressive beyond measure, so seeing her talent presented in Western Maryland would be a great honor while fulfilling one of our missions.”
Beachler noted that there is a very active local literary group, Pirates, Poets, and Scribes, which can be found on Facebook. Someone like Lady Brion would undoubtedly inspire the group’s members, who are passionate about the written and spoken word. Her live presentation would also expose residents to the power of literary arts.
Beachler pondered the right venue for a poet laureate to perform. “It’s not a typical performance you find in our area. I wasn’t even sure if people would know what a treat Lady Brion would be,” she added.
That’s when the idea emerged to invite Lady Brion to perform at the Victorian Chautauqua. The weekend festival attracts an audience of roughly 3,000 people, making this unique performance readily accessible to a large number of people. Free admission removes any barriers. The Arts Council has sponsored the festival since its inception in 2021, providing annual funding to support performers who align with their mission of arts-related programming. Beachler realized she could arrange for and sponsor Maryland’s Poet Laureate to help the Victorian Chautauqua program committee in 2025.
“I had no idea if Lady Brion would be interested in making the trip here to perform,” said Beacher. “She has a very busy schedule and a limited number of engagements she can fit in each year. I held my breath that the Victorian Chautauqua would have the appeal to turn her head.”
Beachler then coordinated with the Victorian Chautauqua's Creative Director, Mark Stutzman, to secure a spot in the program in the event Lady Brion was interested in attending. She graciously accepted and expressed excitement about making the trek from Baltimore for the festival. She works diligently to reach all parts of the state she represents, with the Victorian Chautauqua marking her first appearance in Garrett County.
Unfortunately, Lady Brion encountered a scheduling conflict after learning the National slam poetry competition landed squarely on the Victorian Chautauqua weekend. Representing Maryland is also a priority in her role, appointed by the Governor. The cancellation doesn’t exclude her from visiting Garrett County when she is later available. Plans are already in the works to pick a new date later this year.
The tradition of a Governor-appointed Poet Laureate began after the 1959 Maryland General Assembly passed legislation granting authority to the state’s elected leader to choose a representative for the literary arts community. In 2024, Lady Brion was appointed to the position by Governor Wes Moore, making her the eleventh and youngest Poet Laureate in Maryland’s history and the only spoken word artist ever to hold this position. The earliest Poet Laureates date back to the 14th century in Europe, making way for a widely adopted distinction in modern times. The term "laureate" has come to signify recognition for preeminence or superlative achievement in rhetoric, grammar, and language.
In addition to her role in Maryland, Lady Brion is an international spoken word artist, activist, organizer, and educator. She is the executive director of Maryland’s Black Arts District, an organization she founded in 2019. She received her B.A. in Communication and Culture from Howard University and her MFA in Creative Writing & Publishing Design from the University of Baltimore.
Lady Brion is also widely recognized for slam poetry, which is a competitive poetry event using a highly energetic and expressive manner, often focusing on personal experiences and social issues. Audiences typically judge slam performance based on its emotional impact and delivery, not just the written words themselves. During her slam career, she won the 2016 and 2021 National Poetry Slam, the 2017 and 2019 Southern Fried Regional Slam, and the 2019 Rustbelt Regional Slam. In 2021, she became the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, making her the number one ranked woman slam poet in the world! Her accomplishments make her highly sought after for public engagement.
This marks the first year the Bethel Center is used as a performance venue at The Victorian Chautauqua. The newly restored A.M.E. Church was rededicated in September 2024, welcoming over 200 people to witness the christening and celebration. Storyteller Diane Macklin will highlight African American history with four performances over the two days. Her captivating, descriptive style will bring to life former residents who helped build the mountaintop community so long ago.
Sponsored by the Garrett County Arts Council
