The Kentucky Arts Council is seeking applications for its Poetry Out Loud Registration Program.
Donor Name: Kentucky Arts Council
State: Kentucky
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/03/2025
Size of the Grant: Less than $1000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that 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, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the Kentucky Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation.
Each participating school will:
- Select one teacher to serve as the program coordinator who will incorporate poetry recitation into their class curriculum, be the primary point of contact with the arts council, and organize a school-wide poetry competition.
- Receive a fully funded interactive residency from a professional teaching artist to help students prepare for competition. The school coordinator and teaching artist will work together to plan their class schedules.
- Receive free multimedia curriculum materials, including teacher guides and promotional content. School coordinators must use the Kentucky Arts Council, Poetry Out Loud and NEA logos on all printed materials, including press releases, programs, etc.
- Organize a school-wide poetry competition with no fewer than two students and no fewer than two rounds of recitation to select a school champion. The school champion will then compete in the State Finals competition.
Funding Information
- The state champion will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for a $20,000 scholarship in the National Finals.
- The state champion’s school will also receive a $500 award for the purchase of poetry books.
Eligibility Criteria
Any representative of a Kentucky public or private high school may apply. Homeschooled students may compete through a participating local high school or a home school regional competition hosted by a local library or community center. Participating students must be in grades nine through 12. Multiple classes are encouraged to participate at each school.
For more information, visit KAC.
