Poetry Out Loud is a national contest in which high school students memorize and recite poetry for an audience. The competition begins on a school-wide level, with the winners at each school advancing to the statewide competition held at the Culture Center in Charleston March 9 and 10, 2018. The winners from each US state and territory then compete at the National Finals in Washington, D.C. each spring.
The Poetry Out Loud curriculum is designed to meet state and national standards in Language Arts and Reading. Participation helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. By studying, memorizing, and performing classic and contemporary poems, students become immersed in powerful expression and provocative ideas.
Champions from each school-wide contest are invited to compete at the West Virginia State Finals, held in the Norman L. Fagan State Theater at the Culture Center in Charleston. In addition to contestants from all over the state performing poetry, the event also features guest speakers and celebrated performers. Recent guests include storyteller and author Bil Lepp, West Virginia native and Oscar nominee Chris Sarandon, musicians Kaia Kater and Christian Lopez, poet Nikki Giovanni, and the state’s poet laureate Marc Harshman.