Poetry Out Loud Registration
Poetry Out Loud Registration by the Kentucky Arts Council enables Kentucky high schools to foster poetry recitation skills through artist residencies, curriculum resources, and student competitions.
Funder: Kentucky Arts Council
Due Dates: October 3, 2026 (program registration) | January 29, 2027 (school finals & state registration) | March 10, 2027 (national finals registration)
Funding Amounts: State: $200–$500 to students/schools; National: up to $20,000 for the champion, with additional prizes for runners-up and schools.
Summary: Supports Kentucky high school participation in a poetry recitation competition, offering artist residencies, educational resources, and cash awards at state and national levels.
Key Information: Registration is first-come, first-served; program includes a fully-funded teaching artist residency for each participating school.
Description
This opportunity enables Kentucky public and private high schools to participate in Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation program designed to enhance students' public speaking skills, confidence, and appreciation for poetry. The program is a partnership between the Kentucky Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, offering free educational resources, an artist-led residency, and a structured competition culminating in state and national finals. Schools receive curriculum materials and support to integrate poetry recitation into their classrooms, and students compete for cash prizes and the chance to represent Kentucky at the national level.
