Poetry Out Loud


















     Photo: Participant reading her poem



Poetry Out Loud
is a poetry recitation national initiative presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. By encouraging high school students to memorize and perform great poems, Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. This exciting new program, which began in 2005, helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.











2011 Hawai'i Poetry Out Loud Contestants   

Contest Structure and Awards

Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners will advance to the school-wide competition, then to the state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals. Each winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. A runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. A total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals will be awarded to the winners.


For information on the Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Hawai‘i State Foundation
on Culture and the Arts local guidelines, click here.

For more information on national Poetry Out Loud program, click here.