SEATTLE - The Washington Poets Association has named Sue Ellen White as the new director of the Burning Word festival. The festival is held the last Saturday of April at Whidbey Island's scenic Greenbank Farm and produced annually by the organization.

White is a communications professional with long experience in journalism and editing and served as communication manager at Hedgebrook writers retreat. A resident of Whidbey Island, she will lead the fifth annual festival on April 26, 2008, as it becomes the largest such event in the state.

Eleventh Hour Productions, which produced the Seattle Poetry Festival, announced in September it was closing its organization.

“In the wake of the Seattle Poetry Festival's demise, Sue Ellen's expertise is even more critical to the Northwest literary arts community and for those interested in experiencing world-class poetry in this part of the world,” said Paul Nelson, board president of the WPA. The organization is the largest association of poets in Washington.

Burning Word features headline poets of international stature, regionally respected poets and a venue for new and emerging poets to reach an audience. The festival will also offer free workshops with leading poets, open mic opportunities, music, art and food in the stunning setting at Greenbank Farm with its fields and vistas of Admiralty Inlet and Saratoga Passage.

“I'm delighted to have the opportunity to help move this dynamic festival to its next level of growth and invite poets and supporters to help establish Burning Word as the premier poetry event in the Pacific Northwest,” said White. “We have a community supportive of the arts, an energetic board in the WPA, a wonderful pool of diverse poetic talent and a magnificent venue.”

White takes over as Burning Word founder and former board president, Victory Schouten, steps down after four years leading the festival.

“Festival-goers and performers alike have praised Burning Word not only for its high level of excellence, but also for how much fun they had. They loved how warm and generous they found us,” said Schouten. “As a longtime resident of South Whidbey Sue Ellen is in a wonderful position to guide it, building a solid base of local volunteers and donors. I am glad Burning Word is in such good hands.”

The festival is seeking volunteers and will be accepting nominations in November for poets to appear at the event. To learn more about Burning Word:

• Visit the Burning Word web site.
• See the contact page for email information.
• Call (253) 753-6328 or (360) 341-2434.