Stanley Kunitz

Board member Stanley Kunitz, one of the founders of the Fine Arts Work Center, began his term as the tenth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry on October 12, 2000. Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington said of his appointment, "Stanley Kunitz continues to be a mentor and model for several generations of poets, and he brings uniquely to the office of Poet Laureate a full lifetime of commitment to poetry that is a source of inspiration and admiration for us all." Kunitz succeeds Robert Pinsky, a member of the Work Center's Writing Committee and Board of Trustees, who held the office from 1997 to 2000.

Kunitz with Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington.

On August 26, 2000, the Work Center honored Stanley, celebrating both his upcoming appointment and the remodeling of the room that bears his name. The Stanley Kunitz Common Room was first dedicated and named for him in 1989, after its transformation from a coal bin to a large open space to accommodate readings, slide talks and gatherings. Recent renovations, made possible by the contributions of many generous Work Center friends, covered cold concrete floors with wood, installed a new sound system, and spruced up the decor with wainscoting and new chairs. Donations made in memory of Michael Kirchmayer, a former member of FAWC's Board of Advisors and Facilities Committee, funded the replacement of the Common Room windows. Pleased with the room's new look, Stanley said, "I was proud that the room was named for me, but I always felt it was damned ugly. Now I think it's beautiful."

The rededication ceremony, sponsored by the Provincetown Banner, was attended by over three hundred friends and admirers. FAWC Director Hunter O'Hanian opened the event with a tribute to Stanley's commitment and dedication to the Work Center. "It was Stanley's vision 32 years ago that saw that a non-profit organization could be created in Provincetown which could be a vital part of the local arts community, while at the same time have a national and international impact. As we now receive 1,200 applications from around the globe for our Winter Fellowships, and see the last two Pulitzer Prizes in Fiction awarded to Former Fellows, and as we serve more than 650 students in this year's Summer Program, the breadth of Stanley's vision, and that of the other Founders, has never been more evident."

Michael Mazur, co-chair of the FAWC Board of Trustees, spoke of Stanley's generosity and inspiration to generations of emerging artists and writers. As part of the rededication ceremony, noted poets Gerald Stern, Cleopatra Mathis, Gregory Orr, Gail Mazur, Grace Paley, and Robert Pinsky all honored Stanley by reading his poems in addition to their own work. James Haba, the Poetry Director of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and a member of the Work Center's Board of Trustees, introduced Stanley, recounting the many contributions he has made to the world of poetry. Stanley, who recently turned 95, then thrilled the crowd with a reading that included selections from the span of his career.