Here are some opportunities for students to showcase their poetic talents. Please share with any and all young poets out there and get them engaged with the written and spoken word.
THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA POETS ANNOUNCES 2020-21 POETRY OUT LOUD™
High school students in Minnesota invited to compete in national poetry recitation contest
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation present Poetry Out Loud™ in partnership with The League of Minnesota Poets. This national arts education program encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills and build self-confidence, while also learning more about both classic and contemporary poetry.
During the 2020-2021 school year, schools are invited to participate in classroom and school wide contests, advancing to a state competition in February of 2021. We strongly encourage teachers and organizers at all contest levels to hold virtual competitions for the 2020-2021 POL season. More information is available at poetryoutloud.org, including guidelines to conduct the competition through video submissions. Non-school organizations, such as after school clubs, libraries, or non-profit organizations, may also choose to run Poetry Out Loud as well. Students may only compete in one stream—either with their school or an organization. State champions will advance to the national finals, to take place virtually in
Spring 2021, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.
Since the program began in 2005, more than four million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud.
“Poetry Out Loud is a fun and fulfilling way to develop both an understanding of and an appreciation for poetry while also building self-confidence,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We hope students across the nation enjoy participating this year and look forward to next Spring’s national competition, which will be held virtually for the first time.”
“Poetry Out Loud is a unique opportunity for young people to engage with poetry as a living art, for educators to share their love for the written and spoken word with students, and for communities to recognize the talent and passion
NATIONAL MANNINGHAM STUDENT POETRY COMPETITION
Sponsored by The League of Minnesota Poets 2021
PRIZES: The winners in each category will receive: $50 for first place, $30 for second place $20 for third place. All winners will receive a complimentary membership for the League of Minnesota Poets for that year. Winners will also be invited to attend and read their winning poem at the League’s Spring Convention. Registration will be paid for the League if attending.
THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA POETS Annual Manningham Poetry Competition for State and National Awards of the 2020-2021 school year. www.mnpoets.com
CONTEST ENTRY RULES
- There are two divisions: Grades 6-8 [Junior Division] and Grades 9-12 [Senior Division], neither of which has an entry fee.
- Submissions must be the original work of the student. Poems that have been published and/or have won previous awards are still eligible for this contest (excluding poems that have previously won awards through the Manningham contest specifically).
- All students in Minnesota who are attending public, parochial, home, or private schools are eligible for submission.
- Only one entry per student is allowed.
- The poem is to be typed or computer-generated. No handwritten copies will be accepted.
- Complete a signed statement: This is my original work, with the student’s signature. Poems may be electronically signed, or signed and scanned, but the signature must be present.
- No poems more than 50 lines long.
- Please no large print, illustrations, unusual typefaces (Gothic, script, etc.) or colored fonts. Be considerate of your judges. They love to see your work, but it needs to be in the prescribed format to make their work more efficient.