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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.

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.

Sign up to participate

TEACHERS & ORGANIZATIONS

High schools and organizations that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must contact Indiana Humanities by November 30, 2023 to participate. Indiana Humanities will work with interested schools and organizations to include them in the official Poetry Out Loud program.

By filling out the form below, you are expressing interest in participating in POL this year. Everyone who fills out this form will receive extra info, emails, and opportunities to enrich their POL experience.

Please note: This form is for schools or organizations. If you are an individual student who would like to participate in Poetry Out Loud, but don’t have access to a school competition, please fill out our student form.

INDEPENDENT STUDENTS
High schools and organizations that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must contact Indiana Humanities by November 30, 2023 to participate. Indiana Humanities will work with interested schools and organizations to include them in the official Poetry Out Loud program.
By filling out the form below, you are expressing interest in participating in POL this year. Everyone who fills out this form will receive extra info, emails, and opportunities to enrich their POL experience.
Please note: This form is for individual students. If you represent a school or other organization, please fill out the intent to participate form for schools or organizations.

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

Early October, 2023: New Teacher Orientation (Virtual, Date TBD)

Early November, 2023: Convening with Indiana POL Organizers (Virtual, Date TBD)

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 Indianapolis

April 30 – May 2, 2024: National Finals in Washington, D.C.

 

 

Poetry Out Loud Highlights

News

Indiana 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
News

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 more

Questions?

Contact Megan Telligman, director of programs

mtelligman@indianahumanities.org317.616.9409.

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