The City of West Hollywood is now accepting applications from professional drag persona/performers to serve as the City of West Hollywood’s first Drag Laureate. The Drag Laureate will serve as an ambassador of West Hollywood’s vibrant drag culture and arts and promote West Hollywood through the artform of drag performance. Application deadline is Wednesday, April 26 by 5 p.m.
Application requirements and submission information is available on the City of West Hollywood’s website: www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/drag-laureate.
The West Hollywood Drag Laureate will be expected to serve as an ambassador for the City of West Hollywood, enhance the presence and appreciation of drag culture and arts in West Hollywood, promote partnerships with businesses and community organizations in the City, inspire an emerging generation of drag artists, and participate in the selection of the next West Hollywood Drag Laureate.
The inaugural West Hollywood Drag Laureate will serve for a term of two (2) years, beginning July 2023 and ending June 2025 and will receive an annual honorarium of $15,000 for appearances and an annual event.
Professional drag persona/performers living in the Los Angeles County region are eligible to apply. A successful applicant will be able to demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of drag history, show enthusiasm and love for the City, exhibit excellent public-speaking skills, have experience in performing at a wide variety of venues and in front of a variety of audiences, and have experience in organizing, producing, and managing events/projects from start to finish.
Only drag artists with a significant connection to the City of West Hollywood will be considered. Such connections may be that the artist lives in the City, works in the City, has volunteered on a regular basis for community programs that deliver services in the City, and/or has organized or participated in events that were co-sponsored by and/or took place in the City of West Hollywood. Refer to the www.weho.org/streets to confirm that the residence, work address, and/or the activities being presented for qualification are in the City of West Hollywood.
At its meeting on October 19, 2020 the City Council of the City of West Hollywood directed City staff to develop a Drag Laureate Program. In September 2022, the application process for the Drag Laureate program was released and with feedback from the community, the City embarked on program updates. On March 6, 2023, City Council approved the revised program and application for the West Hollywood Drag Laureate.
Sickening waste of my taxpayer dollars. I would pay $15,000 to get rid of this program.