High schools invited to state poetry contest

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Arts Council is inviting high schools to participate in this year's version of a national poetry-recitation contest.

Officials say Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest has inspired students to discover a wide range of poetry styles and types.

The program was created by the National Endowment fort the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

The contest will award from than $100,000 to state- and national-level winners. Awards at the national finals contest will award a total of $50,000 in cash awards and school stipends for the purchase of poetry books.

State-level contests award $1,000 in cash prizes to the recitation champion, runner up and their schools.

Anthologies, teacher's guides and more are available to all participating schools.