UPDATED VERSION as of 3/02/23
*Please note time changes
Due to inclement weather, we are taking an abundance of caution and Friday will now be virtual. Saturday will also be delayed – please note the time changes below.
The 2023 Tennessee State Poetry Out Loud State Finals will take place in Nashville, TN at the Tennessee State Museum on Friday and Saturday March 3-4, 2023
Please note: Times may vary during the event due to the nature of the competition. All times are Central Daylight Time.
Friday, March 3rd– Educational Workshop
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Virtual Student Poetry Activity
Join us for an engaging program facilitated by The Porch Writers’ Collective. It will be a short but fun workshop that will lead students through collaborative writing skills and interpretation exercises, while also getting to know their fellow competitors.
Join via the Teams link via email.
Saturday, March 4th– State Finals Competition
8:30am – Breakfast available – Grab & go assorted items from Panera
9:30am – Student Check-in
9:45am – 10:30am– Rehearsal (attendance required of all students)
10:30am – Theatre opens to the public
11:00am – Event Begins/Opening Remarks
11:10am – 12:00pm – Round 1
12:00pm – 12:10pm – Intermission
12:10pm – 1:00pm – Round 2
Please note: Times may vary during the event due to the nature of the competition.
1:00pm –2:00pm – Group Picture and Lunch
- Assortment of sandwiches and salads (vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options available) for students and one supervising adult per student.
For additional lunch options: There are a range of food vendors located in the Nashville Famers Market (located directly next to TN State Museum) open from 8am-6pm. Additional information here: https://www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org/mh-restaurants-and-shops
2:00pm – 2:15pm – Top 8 Finalists Announcement
2:15pm – 2:45pm – Top 8 Finalists Competition
2:45pm – 3:00pm – Music Performance, Judges tally
3:00pm – 3:15pm – Awards/Closing Remarks
3:15pm – 4:00pm – Travel reimbursements collected + Awards Paperwork*
* Paperwork for travel reimbursements will be distributed and collected after the event is complete on Saturday. Failure to submit completed paperwork and all receipts will result in delayed and/or no reimbursement.
Have questions? Contact Julia Stark
Julia.stark@tn.gov
615-532-5934
Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
