Poetry Out Loud (POL) 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. Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts , in partnership with Alabama State Council on the Arts and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts . The Region 1 program, facilitated by the Mobile Arts Council, involves an Interest Meet-Up Open Mic, Find Your Voice Workshop in December, followed by the Region 1 Recitation Competition in January. Winners at the Regional Level will advance to the Statewide Competition, who may advance to the National Competition. The program is FREE! Participating teachers receive free materials, including a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and access to audio-visual materials on the art of recitation. Students may compete independently from their school. October 2026: Interest Meet-Up The Mobile Art Council will be present from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Mobile Museum of Art 's GATEWAY: Family Day on October 24th . We encourage students and their families to join the Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the festivities, enjoy the exhibitions, and performance by PowerLines Poetry. Students will have a chance to learn more about the program along with the opportunity to step up to the mic and make their voices heard. Students will be able to register for the Find Your Voice Workshop and Competition at this event. December 2026: Free Find Your Voice Workshop The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud workshop will be December 5th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. , at Mobile Arts Council's Gallery @ Room 1927 . During this workshop, students will collaborate with the MAC PACK, a monthly poetry program facilitated by the Mobile Arts Council, with programming hosted by one of the packs published poets. Here, students will have access to poetry analysis, writing, and general competition info. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. There will be an opportunity to register for the competition at this workshop. Workshop Registration Here! January 2027: Competition (Rules, Registration & Dates) The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud competition will be held Saturday, January 23, 2027 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Baker High School . Only currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th through 12th-grade class. A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Region 1 consists of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Choctaw, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Washington, and Wilcox counties. Only currently enrolled students in grades 9th-12th are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th through 12th-grade class. A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition. An updated online anthology is available this year, and replaces any earlier online or printed anthologies. Note: the anthology may have additional poems added through the month of October. Please note that for the 2026-2027 program, students can choose any three poems from the anthology. Students do not need to select a poem that is 25 lines or fewer or a pre-20th century poem. Register for the Region 1 Competition! 2027 State and Regional Finals February 25, 2027: Alabama Poetry Out Loud State Finals in Montgomery, AL Wednesday, March 10, 2027: State Champion and Chaperone Registration Deadline Monday, April 26- Wednesday, April 28, 2027: National Finals Events in Washington, DC The 2027 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will be held in Washington, DC from April 26-28, 2027. Champions from each state will recite in one of three semifinal groups on Tuesday, April 27, 2027, and the top three students from each semifinal group moved on to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on Wednesday, April 28, 2027, at 7:00 PM ET. Contact Lyza Rodriguez, Region 1 Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, with any questions at lyza@mobilearts.org .
Apply for the SHC + MAC Artist Residency. Enjoy studio space & lead workshops. Deadline: August 30, 2026.
Join the free Youth Drumming Workshop on May 2nd at Spring Hill College. Open to all ages, featuring professional drummers & recycled drum-making.
The Mobile Arts Council and Spring Hill College announce a new partnership designed to expand access to arts programming for students and the greater Mobile community. Built on a shared commitment to service, the collaboration will bring a series of artist residencies, hands-on workshops, and exhibitions hosted on the Spring Hill College campus, connecting students…
Poetry Out Loud (POL) 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. Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts , in partnership with Alabama State Council on the Arts and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts . The Region 1 program, facilitated by the Mobile Arts Council, involves an Interest Meet-Up Open Mic, Find Your Voice Workshop in December, followed by the Region 1 Recitation Competition in January. Winners at the Regional Level will advance to the Statewide Competition, who may advance to the National Competition. The program is FREE! Participating teachers receive free materials, including a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and access to audio-visual materials on the art of recitation. Students may compete independently from their school. October 2026: Interest Meet-Up The Mobile Art Council will be present from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Mobile Museum of Art 's GATEWAY: Family Day on October 24th . We encourage students and their families to join the Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for the festivities, enjoy the exhibitions, and performance by PowerLines Poetry. Students will have a chance to learn more about the program along with the opportunity to step up to the mic and make their voices heard. Students will be able to register for the Find Your Voice Workshop and Competition at this event. December 2026: Free Find Your Voice Workshop The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud workshop will be December 5th, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. , at Mobile Arts Council's Gallery @ Room 1927 . During this workshop, students will collaborate with the MAC PACK, a monthly poetry program facilitated by the Mobile Arts Council, with programming hosted by one of the packs published poets. Here, students will have access to poetry analysis, writing, and general competition info. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. There will be an opportunity to register for the competition at this workshop. Workshop Registration Here! January 2027: Competition (Rules, Registration & Dates) The Region 1 Poetry Out Loud competition will be held Saturday, January 23, 2027 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Baker High School . Only currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th through 12th-grade class. A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition. The deadline to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud Region 1 Competition is January 16th, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Region 1 consists of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Choctaw, Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Washington, and Wilcox counties. Only currently enrolled students in grades 9th-12th are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th through 12th-grade class. A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition. An updated online anthology is available this year, and replaces any earlier online or printed anthologies. Note: the anthology may have additional poems added through the month of October. Please note that for the 2026-2027 program, students can choose any three poems from the anthology. Students do not need to select a poem that is 25 lines or fewer or a pre-20th century poem. Register for the Region 1 Competition! 2027 State and Regional Finals February 25, 2027: Alabama Poetry Out Loud State Finals in Montgomery, AL Wednesday, March 10, 2027: State Champion and Chaperone Registration Deadline Monday, April 26- Wednesday, April 28, 2027: National Finals Events in Washington, DC The 2027 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will be held in Washington, DC from April 26-28, 2027. Champions from each state will recite in one of three semifinal groups on Tuesday, April 27, 2027, and the top three students from each semifinal group moved on to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on Wednesday, April 28, 2027, at 7:00 PM ET. Contact Lyza Rodriguez, Region 1 Poetry Out Loud Coordinator, with any questions at lyza@mobilearts.org .
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. Poetry Out Loud is…
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. Poetry Out Loud is…
Every year Alabama high school students, grades 9th through 12th, are invited to participate in the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. By performing poetry, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn more about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure. Beginning at the classroom level, winners…
Join the Biennial FIVE Competition for student artwork. Submit pieces for a chance to win cash prizes & a free membership!
The Mobile Arts Council (MAC) is delighted to sponsor the biennial Five show, a juried art competition including work from the five area colleges and universities – Bishop State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, Spring Hill College, University of Mobile, and University of South Alabama. Three monetary prizes will be awarded. Open to all…
MAC is delighted to announce the 2024 FIVE Show winners! These students’ works were picked out of 75 entries that had previously been juried into the exhibition. Thank you to all students currently exhibiting their work, and congratulations to this year’s FIVE winners. The FIVE Show will be on display in MAC’s Gallery @ Room…
Stop by MAC’s Gallery @ Room 1927 to shop in our gallery gift shop and to see our newest exhibition, the FIVE Show. The April exhibition series is sponsored by the Mobile International Airport and will be featured in the MAC Gallery through April 30th, 2024. “Five” is a biennial juried exhibition of work by…
The Mobile Arts Council is now accepting entries for the 2025 District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art! Those eligible for District 1 include public and private schools Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties. Every student who receives a District Award will be recognized in the State Awards from…
Every February, the Mobile Arts Council hosts the Visual Arts Achievement Program (VAAP) and Young at Art. VAAP is an arts in education program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and it awards students in grades 6 through 12 that are participating in arts programs within their academic institutions. Young At Art is…
The Mobile Arts Council is pleased to host the 2024 District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art! Those eligible for District 1 include public and private schools Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties. Every student who receives a District Award will be recognized in the State Awards from the…
The Mobile Arts Council is now accepting entries for the 2024 District 1 Visual Arts Achievement Program and Young at Art! Those eligible for District 1 include public and private schools Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington counties. Every student who receives a District Award will be recognized in the State Awards from…