SC Arts Commission Press Releases
S. C. High Schools Invited to Take Part in National Competition
The S. C. Arts Commission invites all South Carolina high school students to participate in national poetry citation contest
September 17, 2007
Media Contact:
Susanna Brailsford
(803) 734-8639
COLUMBIA, S.C. –The South Carolina Arts Commission, in partnership with the National Endowment of the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, invite high schools throughout South Carolina to participate in the “Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest” during the 2007-2008 school year. High schools can participate by contacting Susanna Brailsford at sbrailsford@arts.sc.gov or (803) 734-8639 by Monday, Oct. 1, 2007.
Starting in November, students across the state will begin memorizing and reciting their favorite poems. Students will progress from classroom to school-wide contests to compete in one of three regional competitions: Lowcountry, Midlands or Upstate. In response to increased enrollment in the 2008 competition, the Arts Commission has added a regional competition in the Pee Dee area of the state.
Finalists will advance to the state competition on March 8, 2008. The state champion will receive $200, a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for their school library, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the NEA's Poetry Out Loud National Finals in April. A runner up will also receive $100 and their library will receive a $200 poetry book stipend.
Poetry Out Loud satisfies more than half of the NCTE English/Language Arts Standards as well as many of the state standards. Participating schools will receive free classroom materials, optional lesson plans and access to online resources.
Forty-five high schools in 22 South Carolina counties participated in last year’s Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Samara L. A. Simmons from Academic Magnet High School in Charleston was selected as the 2007 South Carolina Poetry Out Loud champion and represented the state in the 2007 National Finals in Washington, D.C. last May.
Other organization and individuals partnering with the Arts Commission to carry out this statewide project are State Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth, Hub City Writers Project, Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts, Florence County Public Library, The South Carolina Literary Arts Partnership, and USC's South Carolina Poetry Initiative. High schools interested in participating in the 2007 Poetry Out Loud program should contact Susanna Brailsford, program coordinator of the Literary Arts Partnership Program, at SBrailsford@arts.sc.gov or 803-734-8639 by October 1, 2007.
About S.C. Arts Commission
The South Carolina Arts Commission is the state agency charged with creating a thriving arts environment that benefits all South Carolinians, regardless of their location or circumstances. Created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1967, the Arts Commission is celebrating 40 years of increasing public participation in the arts by providing services, grants and leadership initiatives in three areas: arts education, community arts development and artist development. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the Arts Commission is funded by the state of South Carolina and by the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
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