Norwich — Norwich soon will have a poet laureate to add a creative touch to local events, ceremonies and other occasions.

The City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve establishing an honorary poet laureate position. The Norwich Creates Coalition will establish a selection committee with representatives from local schools and Otis Library to review applications.

The five-member committee would have representatives from the Norwich Creates Collaborative, Otis Library, Three Rivers Community College, Norwich Public Schools and Norwich Free Academy. The committee will make a recommendation to the City Council on the appointment.

The Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition is promoting the idea of having cities and towns in the region each establish a poet laureate position. The poet laureates participate in local events and ceremonies, writing poetry for the occasions.

Wendy Bury, executive director of the cultural coalition, said 18 cities and towns in Connecticut currently have appointed poet laureates, including New London — the only other local participating municipality. Bury told the City Council the position would promote creativity in the city and encourage young people to write poetry.

The plan is to pay the poet laureate a stipend of about $300, with funds raised through donations.

“This is an opportunity for the city to really be a leader across the region and the state,” Bury told the City Council on Tuesday.

Shiela Hayes, a member of Norwich Creates, said the poet laureate also would help promote tourism in the city and even attract economic development.