MassMu to Host Poetry Out Loud Regional Semifinals

The Poetry Out Loud Northeast Ohio Regional Semifinals will be held in Gessner Hall at the Massillon Museum on Saturday, February 7, at 2:00 p.m.  Admission is free to the public. Music by Bryson Gentry will accompany the recitations by both students and guest judges. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is not required, but can be completed at: https://events.humanitix.com/poetry-out-loud-northeast-ohio-regional-semifinals.

The Massillon Museum has been named, for the fourth year, the Ohio Arts Council’s Northeast Ohio regional partner for Poetry Out Loud. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry. It is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the state and jurisdictional arts agencies.

Participation is open at no cost to high school students in all 50 US states, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Homeschool students and non-school organizations, such as after-school clubs, libraries, and nonprofit organizations may enter Poetry Out Loud, as well.

Northeast Ohio Poetry Out Loud Coordinator Mary Ruth Kamp will emcee and guest judges will determine who will move on to the state finals on Friday, February 27, in Columbus.

Students choose a poem from a broad array of subjects and lengths to recite before a panel of judges selected by the Museum. The winner of the semifinal competition moves on to the state level. The national Poetry Out Loud program offers more than $105,000 in prizes and school stipends each year.

Massillon Museum is a recipient of ArtsBuild funding from ArtsinStark. This grant is made possible by the support of the Stark County community through ArtsinStark's annual Campaign for the Arts. The Massillon Museum also receives operating support from the Ohio Arts Council and marketing support from Visit Canton. It is grateful to the people of Massillon for their support. Poetry Out Loud is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

MassMu is located at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon. A visit is always free. Free parking is available on adjacent streets and in nearby city lots. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or visit massillonmuseum.org.