New York — From a competitive field of 8,500 students across the state, Chika Brown from Syosset High School won the title of 2019 Poetry Out Loud New York State Champion and will represent New York State at the National Finals from April 30 to May 1 in Washington, D.C. The first runner-up was Padraig Bond from Saratoga Springs High School.

“NYSCA congratulates our new Poetry Out Loud state champion Chika Brown and we look forward to cheering her on as she represents New York State in the national finals,” said NYSCA Executive Director Mara Manus. “Since 2005, NYSCA has worked with our partners across the state to help students develop essential communication skills and an appreciation for literature that will serve them throughout their lives. We are proud to have supported thousands of students through Poetry Out Loud, including this year’s 22 finalists, who represent 15 New York State counties.”

Poetry Out Loud is a national initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Poetry Foundation and state arts agencies that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry—both classic and contemporary—through memorization, performance, and competition. 

With support from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in partnership with Teachers & Writers Collaborative, the Poetry Out Loud New York State finals were held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City on March 8, 2019.

For her recitation of Anne Killigrew’s “Pastoral Dialogue,” Camille T Dungy’s “Requiem” and Lucille Clifton’s “mulberry fields,” Chika Brown received an award of $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete at the Poetry Out Loud national finals. Her school received a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. Padraig Bond received $100, with $200 for his school library. 

"I am exceptionally grateful to have had the opportunity to share the stage with these amazing and talented artists,” said Chika Brown. “Above all, I am honored to have been able to take the work of some gifted poets and with my interpretation, create a meaningful performance." 

Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to regional and state competitions, and ultimately to the national finals in Washington, DC.

Guest judges presided over the New York State competition, including Ken Chen, Executive Director of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop; Samara Huggins, 2017 National Poetry Out Loud Champion; Amy Lemmon, Professor and Chair of Department, English and Communication Studies, Fashion Institute of Technology; Jenny Lord, Director, Juilliard Drama Group; author Charlie Vazquez; and Jordan Dann, Education Director, Teachers & Writers Collaborative. Judges evaluated student performances on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, accuracy, and evidence of understanding.

NYSCA has participated in Poetry Out Loud since its inception with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Through NYSCA’s Arts Education Program, grantee Teachers & Writers administers the state competition in partnership with the State University of New York and the Fashion Institute of Technology. The Poetry Foundation provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded and travel arrangements for Poetry Out Loud. Visit poetryoutloud.org for more details on rules and eligibility.

Supporters can cheer on Chika Brown at the Poetry Out Loud national finals through a live, one-time-only webcast April 30–May 1, 2019 at arts.gov. Fans can also host a Poetry Out Loud webcast viewing party to learn more about the art of poetry recitation. Register at arts.gov/poetryoutloud this spring and find tips on hosting your party, promotional materials, and details on other viewing parties around the country.

About The New York State Council on the Arts
 
The New York State Council on the Arts champions community and creativity by preserving and advancing numerous aspects of the cultural heritage that makes New York State an exceptional place to live, work and visit.

NYSCA upholds the right of all New Yorkers to experience the vital contributions the arts make to our communities, education, economic development and quality of life. Through the agency's core grantmaking activity, NYSCA awarded $41M in FY2018 to 2,400 organizations statewide through direct grants and regrants in our 15 programs and the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. NYSCA funding supports the visual, literary, media and performing arts and includes dedicated support for arts education and underserved communities. NYSCA further advances New York's creative culture by hosting convenings with leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources.

Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960, and continued and expanded to the present day with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, NYSCA is an agency of the Executive Branch of the New York State Government. For more information on NYSCA, please visit: www.arts.ny.gov.  

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. For more information, visit arts.gov.

About the Poetry Foundation

The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative partnerships, prizes, and programs. For more information, visit poetryfoundation.org.