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Mississippi Arts Commission Announces 2008-2009 Poetry Out Loud Competition

DATE:          September 2, 2008 

CONTACT:    Susan Dobbs, MAC Public Relations Director

601/359-6031, sdobbs@arts.state.ms.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

JACKSON— The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation to present Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest.  Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.  From September 2008 through January 2009, high schools statewide are invited to participate in classroom and school-wide contests, advancing to the forth annual state finals, to be held in Jackson on Friday, March 13, 2009.  The state champion will advance to the National Finals held in Washington D.C. April 27-28, 2009.

Grant Cochran from Washington School in Greenville was the winner of the 2008 statewide competition and represented the state at the 2008 National Finals in Washington, D.C.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country.  Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to the state competition, and ultimately advance to the National Finals.  More than 100,000 students across the country are expected to participate in the 2008-2009 Poetry Out Loud program.

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 today’s youth.  Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word and theatre into the English class.  Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

“Learning great poetry by heart develops the mind and imagination,” said Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.  “It isn’t just an arts program.  By immersing themselves in powerful language and ideas, the students will develop their ability to speak well, especially in public.  This is a skill they will use in the workplace and the community for the rest of their lives.”

It is the goal of the Mississippi Arts Commission to involve as many students from across the state as possible. "The Poetry Out Loud Program in Mississippi has grown from a handful of high schools to over 30 participating high schools last year causing us to organize regional semi final rounds in north, central and south Mississippi. Poetry in the classroom has put our students back in touch with their rich literary heritage."

The NEA and the Poetry Foundation have partnered to provide administrative grants to state arts agencies, prizes, and will coordinate the National Finals next April.  With the support of these national organizations, the Mississippi Arts Commission will target high school students across the state.  Additionally, the NEA and the Poetry Foundation will provide state arts agencies with free, standards-based curriculum materials for participating schools.  

The program requires less than two or three weeks of class time and offers an outstanding educational experience for the students. In order to participate, a school must submit their registration form (available at www.arts.state.ms.us ) by December 31, 2008. All registered schools will receive a newly developed training DVD to help them prepare for the competition. 

High school teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud can contact Kim Whitt, Arts Education Director with the Mississippi Arts Commission, at 601/359-6037 or kwhitt@arts.state.ms.us . For a complete program outline visit www.arts.state.ms.us or  www.poetryoutloud.org . 

The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency, funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, Donna & Jim Barksdale, The Phil Hardin Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation and other private sources.  MAC is the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

 

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