The Arkansas Arts Council, with Arkansas Heritage, is pleased to announce Arkansas Poetry Out Loud, the statewide poetry recitation competition, will be held at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at Ron Robinson Theatre in Little Rock.
High school students who won poetry competitions via their schools or educational groups will compete for the State title. The Arkansas champion will have the opportunity to compete at the national level for a chance to win $20,000 this spring. The in-person event is free and open to the public.
Arkansas Poetry Out Loud helps students develop their oration, presentation, and creative skills while increasing self-confidence and instilling a love of poetry. It is a national arts education program that encourages youth to learn, appreciate, and perform poetry.
A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, the Arkansas Arts Council, and schools, the program offers free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country.
Competing schools this year are:
- England High School
- Deer High School
- Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
- Lisa Academy West High School
- Little Rock West High School of Innovation
- Parker’s Chapel High School
- Sheridan High School
- Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Founders Classical Academy
- Valley Christian High School
For more information about Poetry Out Loud, contact Matt Boyce, Arts in Education Programs manager, atmatt.boyce@arkansas.gov. Information about the program is also available online at www.arkansasarts.org.
