Miller named city’s first poet laureate

Austin Public Library has named local poet and theater artist Zell Miller III as the city’s first-ever poet laureate. Miller, a celebrated writer and performer, will serve a two-year term from April 2025 to April 2027, leading poetry and literacy initiatives across the city. The Austin Poet Laureate Program was established by City Council in 2024 to promote poetry, literacy and literary arts while fostering a deeper understanding of Austin’s history and culture. The program aims to integrate poetry into community engagement efforts and advance the library’s mission to support learning, creativity and discovery. Miller is known for his dynamic performances and thought-provoking works, and has been a fixture in Austin’s arts scene for decades. In 2004, he was voted Best Poet/Writer in The Austin Chronicle Readers Poll, and in 2017, he was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame. He will organize public readings, workshops and other poetry-related events to connect the community through the literary arts. For more information on Zell Miller III and the Austin Poet Laureate Program, visit the Austin Public Library’s website.