Statewide high school poetry recitation competition offers $50,000 in awards

Join Indiana Humanities and bring the experience of Poetry Out Loud to students throughout Indiana this school year.

This national arts education program from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students. The program helps students master public speaking skills and build self-confidence while also learning more about both classical and contemporary poetry.

This will be the second year Indiana Humanities is administering the Poetry Out Loud program. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies. The Indiana Arts Commission, which previously administered the program, has enlisted Indiana Humanities to deliver the program.

“Poetry Out Loud is a powerful program that can completely transform a student’s way of thinking,” Indiana Humanities President & CEO Keira Amstutz said. “Thanks to the Indiana Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, we have the ability to empower the next generation to find enrichment through the recitation and study of poetry – an essential part of the humanities.”

During the fall, schools are invited to hold classroom and school-wide contests, with students advancing to a state competition. Non-school organizations, such as after-school clubs, libraries, or nonprofit organizations, may also participate in Poetry Out Loud. For students who do not have access to a school or organizational contest, Indiana Humanities offers an independent competition for students from across the state.

As part of Poetry Out Loud, the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation also offer free, standards-based curriculum materials – all available online – which teachers may choose to use in their classrooms. These include an online poetry anthology containing more than 1,200 classic and contemporary poems, a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, posters, and videos on the art of poetry recitation. These materials are all free to access at PoetryOutLoud.org.

State champions will advance to the national finals, which are planned to take place in Washington D.C., in spring of 2025, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed. More information will be announced in the future.

How to get involved in Poetry Out Loud

High schools and organizations that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must contact Indiana Humanities by Dec. 6, 2024, to notify organizers of your intent to participate. Indiana Humanities will work with interested schools and organizations to include them in the official Poetry Out Loud program.

If you’d like to learn more about Poetry Out Loud, Indiana Humanities will offer an informational webinar at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 5. For more information and to register, visit indianahumanities.org/poetryoutloud. Contact Hailey DeWolf with questions at hdewolf@indianahumanities.org or visit PoetryOutLoud.org.

Poetry Out Loud awards

Each state champion will receive $200 and will advance to the national championship, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed, including a $20,000 award for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion. The state champions representing a school or organization will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up in each state will receive $100, with $200 for their school/organization.

The Poetry Foundation provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded and travel arrangements for the Poetry Out Loud National Finals. For further information on Poetry Out Loud, visit PoetryOutLoud.org.