New York, NY (August 30, 2018)—The Academy of American Poets, the originator and organizer of National Poetry Month, invites students in the United States who are in grades 9 through 12 to enter artwork to be considered for the official April 2019 National Poetry Month poster. One student's winning artwork will be printed on the poster, which will be sent to 100,000 libraries, schools, bookstores, and community centers nationwide and made available by download on Poets.org. The winning student will be featured on Poets.org, in American Poets magazine, and will receive $500 plus signed copies of books by this year’s judges, Academy Chancellor Emeritus Naomi Shihab Nye and renowned designer and educator Debbie Millman. Submissions will be accepted online between September 1 and October 31, 2018.
This is the first time in twenty-two years the Academy of American Poets will dedicate the official poster to student artwork. In previous years, the poster has featured artwork by award-winning illustrators and designers Maira Kalman, Roz Chast, and Chip Kidd, among others.
"National Poetry Month has always included celebrations in schools nationwide, and we know for many students April may be the first time they encounter poetry. Over the past few years, with the guidance of our Educator in Residence Mady Holzer, Education Ambassador Richard Blanco, and the members of our Education Advisory Council, we've actively been creating more ways in which to involve students in National Poetry Month and beyond. We look forward to seeing the students' submissions," said Jennifer Benka, executive director of the Academy of American Poets.
For guidelines and more information, please visit: https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/2019-national-poetry-month-poster-contest-students
About National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 and takes place each April. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry's vital place in our culture. The special month of programs is made possibly by more than 70 poetry partners and sponsors, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.
About the Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. The organization produces Poets.org, the world's largest publicly funded website for poets and poetry; originated and organizes National Poetry Month; publishes the popular Poem-a-Day series and American Poets magazine; creates and distributes Teach This Poem and other award-winning resources for K-12 educators; hosts an annual series of poetry readings and special events; and awards the American Poets Prizes. In addition, the Academy of American Poets coordinates a national Poetry Coalition working together to promote the value poets bring to our culture and the important contribution poetry makes in the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds.
