Calling all poets! Enter the Kauffman Center’s Artful Poetry Contest today. Our 2023 contest will focus on youth poets with categories for 10 & under and 11-18.
From March 21, World Poetry Day, through the end of April, National Poetry Month, local youth writers can submit an original poem and video of themselves reciting their work to win the chance of a lifetime.
Winners will have the opportunity to perform their winning poem at the Kauffman Center’s Future Stages Festival on Sunday, June 11, 2023. Their poem will also be featured on the Kauffman Center’s website and social media channels and they’ll have their poetry highlighted on Kansas City’s KKFI Community Radio 90.1 FM program ARTSPEAK RADIO.
Submissions must include a copy of the original written poem as well as a video of the applicant performing their work. Videos should be submitted via a YouTube link. Applicants must complete the submission form by 11:59 p.m. April 30, 2023. The contest is not open to any individual if they, their parent, sibling or any member of their household is an employee of Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts or a contest judge.
The Artful Poetry submission timeframe has closed. Thank you to all who submitted their work!
Writers must craft their prose based on one of the following three prompts:
- Visit a favorite work of art, in person or virtually. Sit with it and study it. Then, describe and recall the work only using one sense (touch, taste, sound, smell or sight).
- Write a poem addressed to a future version of yourself. What do you hope for your future self and the community in which you live?
- You are holding a key. Close your eyes. What does it open, or does it keep something contained? Where does it take you? How will you use it? Imagine the possibilities.
Writers may submit up to three poems, one per prompt.
First, second and third place winners will be selected in the 10 & under and 11-18 categories by a panel of esteemed local writers and Kauffman Center staff members. Winners will be notified by May 22, 2023, and winning poems will be performed at Future Stages Festival on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
Contest Guidelines
- Applicant’s written submission should be no more than 40 lines and video should be no more than 4 minutes.
- Video must be shot horizontally.
- Applicant must face camera.
- Recitation video should be filmed in one single shot from one static angle.
- Video sound and picture must be clear.
- Videos cannot be edited. Do not add music, graphics, titles, virtual backgrounds or computer animation.
Tips
- Do not place light sources behind you to avoid being backlit.
- Make sure you are the only visible and audible person in the video.
- Use a microphone, if possible. If the microphone is on the camera, position the camera close to you.
- Speak slowly.
- Start recording a few seconds before the recitation and stop recording a few seconds after the end.
- Check out our guide about uploading your video to YouTube
Meet the Judges
- Glenn North
- Executive Director at Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center.
- Inaugural Poet Laureate of the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District.
- José Faus
- Speaker, writer, visual artist and performer.
- Founding member of the Latino Writers Collective in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Board member for the Latino Writers Collective and Charlotte Street Foundation.
- Maria Vasquez Boyd
- Producer, engineer and host of Kansas City’s KKFI Community Radio 90.1 FM program ARTSPEAK RADIO.
- Painter, artist and writer.
- Founding member of the Latino Writers Collective in Kansas City, Missouri.
You can also view the winning submissions from the 2021 Artful Poetry contest.
Hear from the Judges
Watch this series of videos from our judges as they share writing tips and original poetry.
We look forward to reading and seeing your submissions.
Questions? Email opendoors@kauffmancenter.org.