Nine local high school students compete in the San Luis Obispo County Poetry Out Loud Competition on Friday, February 10, 2017. The winner, representing San Luis Obispo County, advances to the statewide competition held in Sacramento March 12 and 13, 2017, and perhaps even to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
The high schools participating this year are: Atascadero, Central Coast New Tech, Liberty, Mission College Preparatory, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy, and San Luis Obispo. Over 4,000 students participate in the program countywide with each school conducting classroom and school-wide competitions to send their champions to the county-level competition.
The national program is sponsored by the National Endowment for the arts and the poetry foundation who partner with state arts agencies. The contest encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation and helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
Coordinated locally each year by ARTS Obispo, the San Luis Obispo County Poetry Out Loud Competition features students reciting two great works of poetry from memory. Facing a panel of five judges, the students are evaluated on accuracy, confidence, delivery, and articulation.
The San Luis Obispo County Poetry Out Loud Competition is sponsored by ARTS Obispo, the California Arts Council, Black Horse Coffee, and the SLO County Poetry Out Loud Advisory Committee.
ARTS Obispo is the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council. Founded in 1981, ARTS Obispo, a nonprofit State-Local Partner of the California Arts Council, advances visual, literary and performing arts and celebrates culture and heritage countywide for artists and arts organizations.