Poetry Out Loud
This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
How to get involved in Poetry Out Loud
About
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
Each state champion will receive $200 and will advance to the national championship, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed, including a $20,000 award for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion. The state champions representing a school or organization will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for their school/organization. The Poetry Foundation provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded and travel arrangements for the Poetry Out Loud National Finals.
For further information on Poetry Out Loud, visit PoetryOutLoud.org.
How to host a competition
How to Host a Competition
(School faculty, staff, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to host)
Coaching the students: Over the course of a few weeks, you will help students explore the official POL anthology of poems and select 1-3 that they can memorize and recite. Students will want to find poems that they can relate to. The role of the ‘coach’ in this program is to help students recite the poems in a way that conveys the poet’s meaning. They are not ‘acting’ as a character or narrator of the poem. They are reciting the poem to convey the tone and meaning of the poem. Is it a poem about losing a loved one? Is it a sarcastic poem? Is it fierce and fiery? The way the student recites should convey these underlining feelings without being over the top.
Organizing a local competition: At the start of the POL process, you will select a date that will be the competition event. The competition organizer will recruit 3-4 judges plus an accuracy judge, help the judges learn the criteria, and prepare the judging score sheets for the competition day. This process may vary based on whether you are doing a virtual competition or in-person. A full guide to competition organizing is available in the teacher’s guide.
Timeline
September 1, 2023: 2023-2024 Poetry Out Loud Anthology Released
November 30, 2023: Intent to Participate Form Deadline
January – March, 2024: Coaching Available to Students
February 9, 2024: Finalist Registration Deadline
February 12, 2024: Finalists Submit Two Recitation Videos Virtually
February 16, 2024: Finalists Invite to Third Round / State Finals in Indianapolis
March 2, 2024: Indiana State Finals in at the Indiana Historical Society (2-5 p.m. Eastern)
April 30 – May 2, 2024: National Finals in Washington, D.C.
Resources
Resources for Organizing a Contest
How to Film a POL Recitation Video
For even more resources for organizers and competitors, visit PoetryOutLoud.org.
Poetry Out Loud Highlights
Indiana Humanities announces winners of Poetry Out Loud state competition
Indiana Humanities announces the winners of the state contest of Poetry Out Loud®. The student winners are Aalihya Banks from Pike High School (Indianapolis) in first place and Kylah Hockemeyer from Eagle Tech Academy (Columbia City) in second place.
Read moreIndiana Humanities announces 2023-24 Poetry Out Loud
Join Indiana Humanities and bring the experience of Poetry Out Loud® to students throughout Indiana this school year.
Learn more
Interview with Sreepadaarchana Munjuluri
The 2023 Poetry Out Loud Champion discusses her journey to the national stage and how she uses poetry as a tool to communicate social issues on a more personal level.
Read morePartners and Funders
Questions?
Contact Megan Telligman, director of programs