Poetry Out Loud
2008 Mendocino County Finals

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 3:30 pm Arena Theater 214 Main Street, Point Arena Free and Open to the Community

On Tuesday, March 4th at the Arena Theater in Point Arena (214 Main Street, downtown Point Arena), high school poets from Point Arena and Mendocino will compete for the chance to become the Mendocino County representative at the 2008 State Finals of the Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition in Sacramento.

Recitation and performance are major new trends in poetry. There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music. California Poetry Out Loud builds on this momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into California classrooms.

The California Arts Council has partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to support the expansion of California Poetry Out Loud, which encourages the state’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. In 2008 at least 250,000 students across the nation are expected to participate in the Poetry Out Loud program.

"Learning great poetry by heart develops the mind and imagination," said Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. "It isn't just an arts program. By immersing themselves in powerful language and ideas, the students will develop their ability to speak well, especially in public. This is a skill they will use in the workplace and the community for the rest of their lives." Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.  

The Mendocino County event starts 3:30pm and is free and open to the public. It will be followed by the Coast High School Poetry Slam competition. The Poetry Out Loud event is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, The Poetry Foundation, California Poets In the Schools, The Arts Council of Mendocino County, The Community Foundation of Mendocino County, The Redwood Coast Education Fund, and the Arena Theater.  For more information, click here.