Poetry Out Loud
(from PoetryOutLoud.org) Recitation and performance are exciting current trends in poetry. There has been a resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music. Poetry Out Loud builds on that momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class.
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with state arts agencies of the United States to support Poetry Out Loud, which encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. CONTEST STRUCTURE AND AWARDS Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners will advance to the school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals. Last year, 325,000 students participated! Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with an adult chaperone to | Washington to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. The first runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends is awarded at the National Finals in the form of lump sum cash payouts, reportable to the IRS.
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