Meet the Island’s New Poet Laureate, Erin Malone. It’s Not Too Early for Local Artists to Apply for This Year’s Studio Tours!

 The City of Bainbridge Island and the Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate Program have selected Bainbridge poet Erin Malone to succeed Michele Bombardier, who served from 2023 – 2025, as the Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate.

Malone began her two-year term with a free community workshop, Reading Poetry to Enrich Your Own, at a recent reading at the BARN Writers’ Studio, 8890 Three Tree Lane NE, Bainbridge Island.

Designed to support the Third Thursday Poetry Reading & Open Mic series at the Bainbridge Public Library, attendees read and discussed work by the upcoming open mic featured poets with the goal of deepening their own skills.

Another Poetry Reading & Open Mic occurred last week at the Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave. N. The featured poet was Alan Chong Lau, who was accompanied during his reading by musician Susie Kozawa.

Malone is the author of Site of Disappearance, a finalist for the National Poetry Series, Hover, and the chapbook What Sound Does It Make. Born in New Mexico and raised in Nebraska and Colorado, she earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Washington. For many years, she’s taught in community spaces as well as at elementary schools and universities.

A former editor of Poetry Northwest, her honors include the Coniston Prize from Radar Poetry and the Robert Creeley Memorial Prize from Marsh Hawk Press. She has received grants and fellowships from Washington State Artist Trust, 4Culture, Jack Straw, and the Colorado Council on the Arts; and residency support from Kimmel-Harding Nelson Center, The Anderson Center, Ucross, Jentel, and Monson Arts. Her poems have appeared in Epoch, FIELD, New Ohio Review, Salamander, Cimarron, Beloit Poetry Journal, and elsewhere.

More information about Malone and upcoming Bainbridge Island poetry events can be found on the Bainbridge Island Poet Laureate Program website, www.bainbridgeislandpoetlaureate.org.

Call to Local Artists Interested in Participating in Upcoming Bainbridge Studio Tours 

Local and area artists are invited to apply to the 2026 Summer and Winter Studio Tours on Bainbridge Island. Applications are now available online. The Tours are scheduled for August 7-9, and Dec. 4-6, and take place at various artists’ studios and community halls around the Island. This year marks the 26^th year for the summer event, and the 43^rd year for the winter event.

• Artists do not have to live on the island or own a studio.
• The deadline for the Summer Tour application is May 15, and for the Winter Tour application is August 21.
• Artists can apply for both events at this time, and early registration is recommended. There is an Early Bird option due March 31. This is only available once a year.
• Jury photos are due with your application.
• Application forms are on the “For Artists” page of the Studio Tour website:  www.bistudiotour.com. Applications can also be emailed to you, just send a quick note to Tour organizer Dinah Satterwhite, info@bistudiotour.com.
• As a juried venue of artwork, the Studio Tour is seeking professional work, designed and crafted by the artist, with original designs, and quality craftsmanship. Artwork should portray the “hand and spirit of the artist.” Artwork that is mass-produced with the use of commercial kits or molds, prefabricated forms, or imported items are not eligible.

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