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Arts Commission News

Mississippi Arts Commission Invites Teachers to Training Workshop for Poetry Out Loud Program

DATE:          October 23, 2008 

CONTACT:    Susan Dobbs, MAC Public Relations Director

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

JACKSON— The Mississippi Arts Commission is making plans for the 2009 Poetry Out Loud Statewide Competition.  Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.  This national program seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers, and builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form.

High schools statewide are invited to participate in classroom and school-wide competitions.  Winners at the school level will compete in regional competitions, with those winners advancing to the finals to be held in Jackson on Friday, March 13, 2009.  Mississippi Public Broadcasting will host the event and it will be taped for later airing.  The winner of the statewide competition will advance to the finals to be held April 26-28, 2009 in Washington D.C. 

High school teachers are invited to attend a Teacher Training Workshop to be held at New Stage Theatre on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 1:00pm.   The workshop will provide practical skills for teachers as they prepare their students for the contests.  Teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud should contact Kim Whitt at 601/359-6030 or kwhitt@arts.state.ms.us. 

Schools may register to participate in the competition by December 30, 2008.  Registration forms are available on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s website at http://www.arts.state.ms.us/special-projects/poetryoutloud.php.

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, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson 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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