Ohio Arts Council Announces Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest
by Jaclyn Reynolds

The Ohio Arts Council is pleased to announce the inauguration of the 3rd annual Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest throughout Ohio. Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition, and is an excellent way to initiate or develop interest in poetry. This is the first year the contest is open to schools statewide and the OAC is inviting schools to register now to begin preparation for the final state contest on Saturday, March 15, 2008.

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theater into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

Schools will hold their own Poetry Out Loud competitions and the winners will compete in the state competition March 15, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. The winner at the state level will receive $300 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the national competition. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up will receive $200, with $200 for his or her school library. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Finals.

The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest is presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council, the Thurber House and Ohioana Library Association.

For more information on Poetry Out Loud, visit the Ohio Arts Council Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts – both new and established – bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities and military bases.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

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