Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation competition for high school students. It nurtures creative expression, builds mastery of language, and enhances presentation skills of participants in all 50 states and five territories. Beginning at the school level, contestants can progress to regional and state championships, and on to the national finals.

Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry by providing free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high school students across the country. Competitions start in individual high schools or with local organizations such as libraries and other nonprofits. The winners of one tier of competition advance to the next. The competition culminates at the national finals with the 55 students who won their state or territory’s championship.

Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. The program was created in 2006 by the Poetry Foundation and the  National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and is supported by the NEA together with state and jurisdictional arts agencies. The Missouri Arts Council has brought Poetry Out Loud to Missouri from the program’s beginning.

Ready to sign up? Email state coordinator, Jenni Ryan, from the Missouri Arts Council at [email protected].