ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (November 12, 2019) — Poetry Out Loud, a free high-school program which encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through analysis, memorization, and recitation, is now open to Illinois high school students. This program helps high-school students master public-speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn of their literary heritage, and compete for more than $100,000 in awards.
Competitions will begin this fall to identify students who will represent their school at the regional and state contests. The region #5 Western Illinois contest is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, 3PM, February 15, 2020, at Annawan High School, Annawan, Illinois.
The state-finals competition will be held in March 2020 to determine the state winner who will represent Illinois at the national finals in Washington DC in late April 2020. Winners at the state level will receive a $200 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC, a $500 cash stipend for the student’s school to purchase poetry materials, an opportunity to compete at the 2020 National Finals for the title of National Champion, and a $20,000 prize.
Free Poetry Out Loud materials are available for participating schools, including print and online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide, an audio CD, and promotional and media guides.
Program details are also available on the Poetry Out Loud website at www.poetryoutloud.org. For curriculum materials and more information, contact local coordinator Tracy White at 563-579-7630 or tracyalanwhite@gmail.com.
2020 Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, is a free national program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. These organizations have partnered with the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Quad City Arts and other regional partners to invite Illinois high schools to participate in the contest.
About the Visiting Artist Series
Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local-arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts.
The Poetry Out Loud program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Contact: Poetry Out Loud local coordinator Tracy White at 563-579-7630 or tracyalanwhite@gmail.com.
