THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS ANNOUNCES POETRY OUT LOUD: NATIONAL RECITATION CONTEST

by Catherine O'Brian
NH State Council on the Arts
Department of Cultural Resources

High School Students in New Hampshire Invited to Compete in National Poetry Recitation Contest

The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation present Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest, in partnership with the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Other New Hampshire sponsors include: the N.H. Writers Project, the Poetry Society of New Hampshire, the Frost Place (Franconia) and the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire. Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Starting in early 2006, schools in each state capital region are invited to participate in classroom and schoolwide contests, advancing to state competitions next April. State champions will advance to the National Finals, to take place May 16, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

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 theatre into the English class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

"Learning great poetry by heart develops the mind and imagination," said Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. "It isn't just an arts program. By immersing themselves in powerful language and ideas, the students will develop their ability to speak well, especially in public. This is a skill they will use in the workplace and the community for the rest of their lives."

"The public recitation of great poetry," said John Barr, President of the Poetry Foundation, "is a way to honor the speaker, the poem, and the audience all at once. Poetry Out Loud brings new energy to an ancient art by returning it to the classrooms of America."

"The recitation of poems has a long tradition in New England," said Rebecca L. Lawrence, Director of the New Hampshire State Arts Council. "Once a favorite entertainment at grange halls and opera houses, the dramatic reading of poetry will now find a voice with a new generation. In the process, it will strengthen community life, as the arts often do, by giving people a reason to gather."

N.H. State Council on the Arts to implement programs and free curriculum materials

The NEA and the Poetry Foundation have each contributed $500,000 towards the 2006 Poetry Out Loud program in support of materials, grants, prizes and the National Finals next May. With this support, the N.H. State Council on the Arts will target at least 10 to 15 high schools in New Hampshire.

Additionally, the NEA and the Poetry Foundation will provide State Arts Agencies with free, standards-based curriculum materials for use by participating schools. These materials include print and online poetry anthologies, a program guide to help instructors teach recitation and performance, and an audio CD featuring well-known actors and writers such as James Earl Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Alyssa Milano, and N. Scott Momaday. Program materials are available for download on the new website, www.poetryoutloud.org, which offers additional resources.

How to Get Involved

High school teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud should know that the program requires less than two or three weeks of class time. Participating schools are expected to run their program between January and March. The N.H. State Council on the Arts will hold its final contest in April 2006. The National Finals will take place May 16, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

High schools that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program should contact Catherine O'Brian, Arts in Education Coordinator at the N.H State Council on the Arts, 271-0795 or cobrian@nharts.state.nh.us, to request an application. The N.H. State Council on the Arts will determine which schools are eligible to take part in the official Poetry Out Loud program. Schools that are not in the official program may conduct their own contests using the online resources. Contact Rodger Martin, N.H. Poetry Out Loud Coordinator at rodgerwriter@tds.net or visit www.poetryoutloud.org for more information.

Prizes

Students who participate in the official Poetry Out Loud program may be eligible to compete in the State and National Finals next April and May. Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. Poetry Out Loud will award a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals, with at least a $20,000 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.