Spotlights

April 2015
Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud, the national poetry recitation contest, was created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in 2006. Now in its tenth year, the program partners with state arts agencies to encourage high school students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation. The program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has been participating in Poetry Out Loud since its inception. This year, over 10,000 students from 37 New Hampshire high schools recited poetry in school competitions; champions advanced to regional semi-final competitions and students who placed in top positions at each semi-final competed in the state finals. Dessaline Etienne from Goffstown High School won the state final, with Nora Doyle from Plymouth Regional High School as first runner-up. Dessaline will advance to the national championship in Washington, D.C. at the end of this month.

This year’s state partners included the Putnam Foundation, Lincoln Financial Group, New Hampshire Public Radio, the New Hampshire Writers Project, Poetry Society of New Hampshire, the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire, Granite State Ambassadors, the New Hampshire Institute of Art, New England College, Southern New Hampshire University, Jean’s Playhouse, CavanKerry Press, the Frost Place in Franconia and Opus Advisors. More information on the 2015 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud competition can be found here.

Last updated: April 6, 2015