The Springfield Area Arts Council will host the Poetry Out Loud Central Illinois Regional Contest on Thursday, February 9, at 4:00 p.m. in Theatre Three at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. There is no admission cost, and all are welcome.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. It is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies.

The Springfield Area Arts Council partners with the Illinois Arts Council Agency to bring this program to Central Illinois. This year, eight area high schools, 19 teachers, and 1,264 students are participating. Participating schools include:

Decatur: Eisenhower High School
Eureka: Eureka High School
Franklin: Franklin High School
Pekin: New Hope Christian Academy
Springfield: Lutheran High School; Sacred Heart-Griffin High School; Southeast High School; Springfield High School