The Arkansas Arts Council is accepting registrations from public, charter and private schools as well as homeschool groups to participate in the 2021 Arkansas Poetry Out Loud competition. The registration deadline is Dec. 18.
Students compete at the school level for a chance to become the Arkansas Champion. The state winner competes for $20,000 at the national level next spring! School competitions are already underway, so register soon.
The Arkansas Arts Council provides all materials, including coaches, needed to support the program. Virtual workshops also are being planned to help students compete at the state and national levels. Both the 2021 state and national competition will be held virtually this year.
Arkansas Poetry Out Loud helps students develop their oration, presentation and creative skills while also increasing self-confidence and a love of poetry. Parents interested in their high school students competing should encourage their schools to participate.
For more information or to register, contact Drekkia Morning, Arts in Education Programs manager, at Drekkia.Morning@Arkansas.gov. Information about the program is also available online at www.arkansasarts.org/Programs/Poetry-out-loud/home.
Poetry Out Loud is done in partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation.
About the Arkansas Arts Council
The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, advances the arts in Arkansas by providing services and supporting arts endeavors that encourage and assist literary, performing and visual artists in achieving standards of professional excellence. In addition, the Arkansas Arts Council provides technical and financial assistance to Arkansas arts organizations and other providers of cultural and educational programs. Other agencies are the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas State Archives, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Old State House Museum. Funding for the Arkansas Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Arkansas and the National Endowment for the Arts. Arkansas Heritage is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
