High school teachers and students are invited to get involved in Nevada Poetry Out Loud, the dynamic poetry program that is structured similarly to the National Spelling Bee, but focuses on literary heritage through memorization and performance of classic and contemporary poetry. Registration for The Eighth Annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud competition is open to all Nevada public, private, charter, parochial and alternative schools and home school associations through Dec. 1.

The Nevada Arts Council, along with its partners the Nevada Department of Education and the Nevada Alliance for Arts Education cosponsor Nevada Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation program made possible through the funding and leadership of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The 2013 Nevada Poetry Out Loud program is made possible by generous support from NV Energy.

Poetry Out Loud begins at the local level as students learn about, memorize and finally present out loud poetry of their choice. Participants advance from school to district competitions and then to the Nevada State Finals, where the stakes are high. The Poetry Out Loud State Champion earns $1,000, wins $1,000 for his or her school to support literary programs and travels to Washington, D.C. to compete for $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals. Those who place second and third at the Nevada State Finals receive $500 each and $500 for their schools.

In 2012, more than 2,200 students, teachers and coaches participated in Nevada’s Poetry Out Loud, representing 14 of Nevada’s 16 counties with high schools. Last year’s state champion Mandy Titolo of the College of Southern Nevada High School West represented Nevada at the national finals in Washington, D.C.

Starting at the classroom level, teachers are provided with free multimedia curriculum materials – a poetry anthology, audio guide, teachers’ guide, posters and comprehensive website, http://www.poetryoutloud.org all aligned to national standards – to augment their regular poetry curriculum with poetry recitation and a school-level competition. The student winner and a chaperone from each participating school district receive support to attend the state finals on March 16, in Reno.

Teachers are invited to find out more about 2013 Nevada Poetry Out Loud and to register to participate by Dec. 1 at the Nevada Arts Council’s website, nac.nevadaculture.org or contact Maryjane Dorofachuk at (702) 486-3738 or mdorofachuk@NevadaCulture.org.
The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, was founded in 1967 as the state agency charged with ensuring that state and national funds support cultural activity and encourage participation in the arts throughout Nevada. The agency’s programs and services are designed to support creative expression, animate communities, diversify local economies and provide lifelong learning in the arts for all Nevadans. The Nevada Arts Council is funded by the Nevada State Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and other public and private sources.