Register Now for Poetry out Loud

It is Poetry Out Loud time again and we are excited again here at the Maine Arts Commission. This education program is one of our favorites, and continues to amaze us more year after year.

We announced a call for registration yesterday and we already have eight schools registered and ready to compete.

If you do not know about Poetry Out Loud then here is the scoop. It is organized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation and administered at the state level by the Maine Arts Commission. It began in high schools nationwide in 2006, the program encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. In addition to providing a meaningful arts education experience of poetry in written and spoken form, prizes are awarded to successful students and schools at the state and national level, including a $20,000 scholarship awarded to the National Champion.

The Maine Arts Commission is pleased to announce that schools can now register quickly and easily online by visiting MaineArts.com.

Please note that Poetry Out Loud can take place in your school anytime between now and January 17, 2014, as the program does not require full class periods and can be completed in just two to three weeks. However, there are many opportunities to make Poetry Out Loud a larger part of your high school’s curriculum in English Language Arts or Visual and Performing Arts, including the program’s alignment with the Common Core English Language Arts Standards in the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading and for Language. . Click for details.

Please review the following timeline as you consider registering your school:

• September – November 2013 School Registration (ongoing)
• November 22, 2013 Last day to register for Poetry Out Loud
• January 17, 2014 Last day for school-wide competitions
• January – February 2014 Poetry Out Loud Regional Workshops
• February 2014 Maine Regional Finals
• March 2014 Maine State Finals
• April 28-30, 2014 POL National Finals