Sponsored by the Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts Foundation, Poetry Out Loud gives Washoe County high school students an opportunity to participate in a recitation competition. This year, 14 students from seven high schools will participate in the district competition to earn a spot in the state competition. Students who choose to be involved in Poetry Out Loud can choose from more 700 classic and contemporary poems to recite. They are also given supplemental materials, including a CD of poems read by famous actors and poets.
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. This year, Poetry Out Loud celebrates its 10th Anniversary. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure.
Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school‐wide competition, the district competition and then to the state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Some 375,000 students from more than 2,000 high schools took part in the 2013–2014 Poetry Out Loud competition. The Poetry Out Loud Nevada State Competition will be held on March 14 in Reno at the Sienna.
The district competition will be held Wednesday, February 18 at 4:30 p.m. at McKinley Arts and Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive. The event is free and open to the public.
