Poetry Out Loud

Bring Poetry to Life

Teachers, schools, and community organizations are invited to take part in Poetry Out Loud, a nationwide program that transforms poetry into a shared, live experience. Created by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and administered in Georgia through a partnership between Georgia Council for the Arts and the Alliance Theatre, the program offers a ready-to-use opportunity to engage students in the classroom and beyond.  

Students in grades 9-12 select, memorize, and perform poems, advancing through regional and state competitions for the chance to compete at nationally. With free educational materials and flexible participation options, Poetry Out Loud is easy to incorporate into lesson plans as part of a poetry unit or schoolwide activity.

Learn More and Register 

Schools, community organizations, and individual students who are interested in the program are encouraged to visit the Alliance Theatre’s website for additional details about the program, including registration details and key dates. Registration opens in the fall, with local, state, and national competitions held in the spring.  

Students who place first and runner-up in the state finals are eligible for cash prizes, including funding to support poetry materials at their school or organization. The state winner receives an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Finals.  

“This Poetry Out Loud experience has exceeded my expectations! Just being surrounded by such talented peers placing their interpretations of these poet's works on full display was a joy to be a part of." said Georgia Poetry Out Loud 2024 champion and national second-place winner Tiana Jones.