‘The point is to be, in your own eyes, what you are’: 2023 NH Poetry Out Loud registration now open

The N.H. State Council on the Arts has announced that registration for the 2023 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud competition is open through the end of October.

A national recitation program for high school-aged students, Poetry Out Loud has participants select, memorize and recite classic and contemporary poems, helping them to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Organized on the national level by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, it is facilitated in New Hampshire by the N.H. State Council on the Arts.

In a national study, students who participated in the Poetry Out Loud program reported that the process of deeply analyzing, memorizing and interpreting poetry challenged them, improved their writing and analytical skills, and fostered skills they applied to their English Language Arts courses and other subjects.

Additionally, several students found that reading and listening to poetry helped them think about situations from perspectives other than their own.

Schools and non-school organizations participating in Poetry Out Loud—including afterschool clubs, libraries and non-profit organizations—are provided with curriculum materials at no cost. These include a poetry anthology, a comprehensive teacher’s guide, videos of student performances, lesson plans, and promotional and media resources. 

As many as 6,000 New Hampshire students from 40 schools and school groups participate in Poetry Out Loud each year. In New Hampshire, the program starts locally at the classroom, school or participating organization level, with top performers advancing to regional semi-finals, then the state competition and ultimately to the national finals.

To learn more about 2023 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud, including how high schools and school groups can register, visit nh.gov/nharts. For additional information, contact Allison Hawkins, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts at 603-271-0791, allison.hawkins@dncr.nh.gov. 

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts is a division of the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. It began in 1965 with legislation designed “to insure that the role of the arts in the life of our communities will continue to grow and play an ever more significant part in the education and welfare of our citizens.” Funding for programs is provided through state appropriations, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Conservation License Plate fund. Learn more about the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts at nh.gov/nharts. 

###