Recent News

NEVADA POETRY OUT LOUD STATE FINALS CANCELED

The Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals, scheduled for this Saturday at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno, has been canceled as a precautionary step in the corona virus crisis.

The 15th annual event was to feature the top 6 poets from Nevada high schools competing for the chance to represent the state at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in April in Washington, D.C.

Nevada Arts Council Executive Director Tony Manfredi said an alternative competition involving the students performing their poems via video is being considered to determine the state champion. A final decision will be made in the days ahead.

Since September, more than 4,400 Nevada high school students have been embracing the power of words by participating in the 2020 Nevada Poetry Out Loud Program. District competitions are complete and finalists are preparing for the state final competition.  The student winning the state final competition will represent Nevada at the national competition in April in Washington D.C. Read More

2020 Nevada Poetry Out Loud District Finalists

Clark County:
Aylin Mendoza

Douglas County:
Lara Cassity

Elko County:
Soledad Negrete

Lyon County: 
Whitney Hegstad

Storey County:
Anastasia Chevalie

Washoe County: 
Eakjot Sekhon

Focusing on our rich literary heritage and contemporary life through memorization and performance of classic and contemporary poetry, Nevada Poetry Out Loud is a program of the Nevada Arts Council, presented in partnership with National Endowment for the Arts, The Poetry Foundation, the NV Energy Foundation, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Arts Foundation, SoSu TV, KUNR , Nevada Department of Education, Nevada School Districts, and Cultural Alliance Nevada. Read More