New Jersey Poetry Out Loud Region 1 

This will be Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts 18th year hosting Region 1 Poetry Out Loud Competition. 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 for high school students across the country. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the 55 state and jurisdictional arts agencies.

To learn more about Poetry Out Loud visit www.njpol.org

ABOUT THE COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that reflect the diversity of the region. As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity.

ABOUT THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in New Jersey. The Council believes the arts are central to every element we value most in a modern society including: human understanding; cultural and civic pride; strong communities; excellent schools; lifelong learning; creative expression; and economic opportunity. To learn more about the Council, please visit www.artscouncil.nj.gov.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY POETRY OUT LOUD

New Jersey Poetry Out Loud is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Count Basie Center for the ArtsPoetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, led by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, in partnership with the state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the country. In New Jersey, the State Arts Council and the Basie work with a growing network of regional partners to implement the program statewide.

 

RCCA has been the NJ Poetry Out Loud Region One Partner since 2007.
REGION ONE INCLUDES Gloucester, Burlington, Camden & Mercer counties.

High schools in these counties can get involved in this nationwide recitation contest and scholarship program.


So what is Poetry Out Loud?

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national poetry recitation program for all public, charter, parochial school and home school students grades 9-12, or the age/grade equivalent. Other grades are welcome to register and run the program at the school level, but do not qualify for the contest. National Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, The Poetry Foundation, and the state arts agencies of the United States.

In New Jersey, POL is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, in collaboration with Mayo Performing Arts Center, ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and a growing list of local partners. POL Poetry Out Loud encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.

2024 – 2025 Calendar

NOVEMBER 2024

November 19th, 2024 | Registration open for school champions

JANUARY 2025

January 21st, 2025 | Deadline to register school champion

REGIONAL CONTESTS

FEBRUARY 2025

February 3, 2025 | Region 1 Competition | Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts

February 4, 2025 | Region 5 Competition | South Orange Performing Arts Center

February 6, 2025 | Region 6 Competition | Passaic County Community College

February 10, 2025 | Region 4 Competition | Mayo Performing Arts Center

February 12, 2025 | Region 3 Competition | Grunin Center at Ocean County College

February 13, 2025 | Region 2 Competition | Stockton University Performing Arts Center

STATE FINALS

March 12, 2025 | NJPOL 2025 State Finals

NATIONALS

May 5-7, 2025 | Poetry Out Loud National Finals


Want to know more?

Visit the NJPOL website at https://www.njpol.org/.


Want to get involved?

Contact:
RCCA-Info@Camden.Rutgers.edu