The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) conducts the state Poetry Out Loud recitation competition. Produced on a national scale by the National Endowment for the Arts, the program provides scholarships to high school students and cash to purchase poetry books to winners’ school libraries.
With assistance from Art Spark Texas, TCA organizes the statewide program, providing the schools with Poetry Out Loud lesson plans, resources, and the opportunity to work with Texas poets. Students choose poems to memorize and recite from the Poetry Out Loud anthology. Schools hold competitions to determine the student who will go on to the statewide competition. The statewide competition is held in February. The statewide winner receives $200, while his or her school library garners $500. The state’s second place winner receives $100, and his or her school library, $250.
The statewide winner represents Texas at the national competition in Washington, DC in late April. The winner of that competition receives a $20,000 scholarship.
Participation is open to high schools and nonprofit organizations serving high school students, throughout the state of Texas. Home-schooled students and students at schools that don’t hold competition are encouraged to contact the Texas state coordinator.
For this year, Poetry Out Loud will focus on America 250 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring poems celebrating the rich tapestry of American stories. Refer to Poetry Out Loud’s FAQ page for more information about the 2025-2026 program.
For information on participating in the Texas program, please contact Matrex Kilgore at 512/936-6563 or matrex@arts.texas.gov.