Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest for high school students that begins in the classroom and culminates with the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington D.C. By inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theatre into the English class, Poetry Out Loud encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry by studying, memorizing and performing some of the most influential and timeless poems of the English language. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. The inspiration for this program is to promote poetry in both the classroom and the community. Poetry Out Loud provides an entry point for many students to learn to love poetry and own their favorite poems for a lifetime. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is delivered in all 50 states and three territories through partnerships with state arts agencies. Learn more about the finalists and watch interviews Poetry Out Loud in Arizona:Arizona’s state arts agency, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, launched Arizona Poetry Out Loud in 2006 with pilot programs in Phoenix and Tucson. In 2007, the program expanded to high schools across the state and continues to introduce more and more students to great poetry and recitation every year. Now in its sixth year, over 11,500 students in high schools from Kingman to Nogales participate in Arizona Poetry Out Loud. In the 2010-2011 season of Poetry Out Loud, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, in partnership with its Poetry Out Loud Regional Partners, the Young Writers Program at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona Poetry Center, conducted regional competitions in Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson, where 70 student finalists competed for a spot at the Arizona State Finals. At each regional competition, the top three students were chosen to advance to the Arizona Poetry Out Loud State Finals where they will compete for the title of Arizona State Champion and the opportunity to represent our state at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. Each state champion receives $200 and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC, (with an adult chaperone) to compete at the National Finals. The state winner’s school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state receives $100, and his or her school receives $200 for the purchase of poetry books. At the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, a total of $50,000 in scholarship awards and school stipends are awarded, with a $20,000 college scholarship award for the National Champion. Click here for photographs from the 2011 event
The Arizona Poetry Out Loud program is managed and supported by the Arizona Commission on the Arts. |
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