March 3, 2008

Students from 15 high schools across Michigan will test out their poetic chops during the "Poetry Out Loud" state championship competition Saturday, March 8, in the Forum of the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo, in downtown Lansing.  This free event runs 1 to 4 p.m. and is open to the public and poetry enthusiasts young and old.

Judges for the March 8 competition include WLNS TV-6 news anchor Sheri Jones, Michigan Television producer Chris McElroy and playwright Sandra Seaton.

Students from the following schools will participate:

"Poetry is something that people in all walks of life can relate to and gain inspiration from," said Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Executive Director John Bracey.  "But if kids never get the opportunity to open a book of poems, hear the power of the spoken word from lips of a professional poet or get instruction from a qualified teacher, how do they even know what they're missing?  Poetry Out Loud sparks our kids' imaginations and gives them the chance to feel the power of poetry and express themselves in a very unique way."

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry - recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap music among youth. Poetry Out loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into the English class. Through this program, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. More than 150,000 students are expected to take part in Poetry Out Loud this year.

A national arts education program, Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic pyramid-structured recitation competition to high schools across the country.  Beginning at the classroom level, winners will advance to the school-wide competition then to the state capitol competition, and ultimately to the national finals in Washington, D.C.

The state winner will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to the Washington national championship April 28-29, 2008.  The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.  The runner-up in the state competition will receive $100, along with $200 for his or her school library.  For more information about Poetry Out Loud, visit www.michiganhumanities.org.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Michigan Humanities Council and the Library of Michigan, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Poetry Foundation, have worked together to bring Poetry Out Loud to Michigan's high school community.  Priority is given to high schools located in under-served communities, defined as those in which people lack access to arts and humanities programs, services or resources due to geography, economic conditions, cultural background or sociopolitical circumstances.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative, cultural activity in Michigan.  It is an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries.  For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/arts. 

Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the Department of History, Arts and Libraries also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Film Office and the Michigan Historical Center.  Learn more at www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).