Poetry Out Loud

The Massillon Museum is the Ohio Arts Council’s Northeast Ohio regional partner for Poetry Out Loud. A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies, 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 to high schools across the country. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org to learn more about the program.

Counties in the Northeast Ohio region are: Ashland, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Wayne. Teachers and arts organizations leaders within the region who are interested in hosting a school championship at their high school or organization can register here. 

Please email Poetry Out Loud Coordinator Mary Ruth Kamp at POL@MassillonMuseum.org with any questions about registration or to learn more about the Poetry Out Loud program. 

Important Dates for the Northeast Ohio Region

  • Registration for the 2024-2025 program is now closed.
  • Workshop Dates
    • Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.: Northeast Ohio Teacher Workshop via Zoom
      • This informational workshop was geared toward teachers and arts organization leaders from throughout Ohio interested in learning more about hosting a Poetry Out Loud competition at their arts organization or public, private, or parochial high school. The Massillon Museum is the Ohio Arts Council's Northeast Ohio regional partner. Counties in the Northeast Ohio region are: Ashland, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Wayne.
      • The recording is available at https://youtu.be/4gRE_U8E1rU. 
    • Sunday, October 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.: Student Workshop at the Massillon Museum in Gessner Hall
      • This workshop was for school and arts organization champions, school/organization staff, and parents/guardians of student champions.
  • Northeast Ohio Regional Semifinals
    • Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Massillon Museum in Gessner Hall
      • A recording of the event can be accessed here, courtesy of Massillon Live!
  • State Finals presented by the Ohio Arts Council
    • Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at WOSU Public Media in Columbus, OH
  • National Finals in Washington, DC, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation
Rules and Eligibility Requirements
  • Only currently enrolled students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th- through 12th-grade class.
  • No student may be excluded from participating in Poetry Out Loud on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Schools may determine eligibility for classroom and school level Poetry Out Loud programming pursuant to local and state law.
  • Homeschooled students may participate by competing in a contest at a local school (at the school’s discretion) or with other local homeschooled students. Contact your state coordinator for specific guidelines.
  • Only versions of poems from the official print or online Poetry Out Loud anthology may be used in the contest. 
  • For more information about student, poem, and competition rules and eligibility, please visit PoetryOutLoud.org/About-Poetry-Out-Loud/Rules-Eligibility/.
Prizes

Each winner at the state level receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip (with an adult chaperone) to Washington, DC, to compete at the National Finals. The state winner’s school/organization receives $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up in each state receives $100, with $200 for their school/organization. At the national finals, a total of $50,000 in awards and school/organizational stipends are awarded annually including a $20,000 award for the National Champion, $10,000 for 2nd place, $5,000 for 3rd place, and $1,000 for 4th-9th places. The representing schools/organizations of each of the top nine finalists receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org/FAQ/ for more information.