A collection of poetry, including unpublished work from late Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson, will be released in a Friday evening celebration with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado writers.

The anthology, called “Begin Where You Are,” commemorates the state’s poets laureate, with all of the proceeds from book sales going toward the first endowment for the Colorado Poet Laureate position, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Endowment funds will go toward travel for the poet laureate, with an emphasis on visiting rural communities and more schools and libraries across Colorado. Funds are administered by nonprofit organization The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology.

The launch party — from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Petals and Pages Bookstore, 956 Santa Fe Dr., Denver — is free to the public, but those who want to attend should RSVP on the Colorado Poets website.

Attendees will get light refreshments and an opportunity to buy the book and get it signed. There will also be poetry readings throughout the evening.

Colorado’s former poet laureate, Andrea Gibson, died in July at age 49 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. The Boulder-based queer activist, author and slam poet was named the state’s poet laureate in September 2023.

Nominations are currently being reviewed for the state’s next Poet Laureate, the eleventh, with an announcement expected early next year, according to the release.

Some of Gibson’s unpublished work will be included in the anthology, which brings together 10 poets laureate into one collection.

“Poets laureate play a unique and important role uplifting arts and culture in Colorado,” Colorado Creative Industries Director Josh Blanchard said in the release. “They commemorate our past, celebrate who we are and inspire a vision for our future. We are thrilled to celebrate their contributions in this special anthology, and in turn support the work of Poet Laureates to come.”

Colorado’s Poet Laureate program is a partnership between CCI, Colorado Humanities and The Word, a Storytelling Sanctuary, Inc.

The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology, formed by five former poets laureate, is a nonprofit dedicated to improving access to poetry in Colorado.

“The arts tell the story of who we are, a narrative that is essential to the Colorado spirit,” Polis said in the release. “We are thrilled to celebrate this important collection of work, which commemorates the profound contributions of our Poets Laureate to our vibrant culture and way of life.”