Indiana Humanities is inviting students across the state to participate in the Poetry Out Loud competition for the upcoming school year. This national arts education program, led by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation, encourages high school students to explore and recite poetry while offering free educational resources and a vibrant competitive platform.
The Poetry Out Loud program helps students enhance their public speaking abilities and self-confidence. It also deepens their understanding of both classic and modern poetry. Indiana Humanities is taking on the administration of the program for the second consecutive year. The Indiana Arts Commission, which previously managed the event, has partnered with Indiana Humanities to ensure its continued success.
Keira Amstutz, President & CEO of Indiana Humanities, highlighted the program’s impact: “Poetry Out Loud is a transformative experience that can change the way students think. Through the support of the Indiana Arts Commission, NEA, and the Poetry Foundation, we’re able to inspire the next generation to engage with poetry—an essential element of the humanities.”
This fall, schools are encouraged to host both classroom and school-wide competitions, with winners advancing to a state-level contest. The program is also open to non-school groups like after-school clubs, libraries, and nonprofits. For students without access to a local competition, Indiana Humanities offers an independent contest that welcomes participants from across the state.
In addition to the competition, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation provide free, standards-aligned curriculum materials, which teachers can integrate into their classrooms. These resources include an online anthology of over 1,200 poems, a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, posters, and instructional videos on poetry recitation.
State champions will move on to the national finals, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., in the spring of 2025. A total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed at the event. Additional details will be released in the coming months.