The Literary Committee of Dare County Arts Council encourages literary arts in all its forms! We host periodic Open Mic Nights in partnership with different venues throughout Dare County. We also support local writers and poets through workshops and events. Scroll down to see what's happening on the literary scene or contact DCAC for more information on Literary opportunities in our community!

 

 

2012 Dare County Schools Poetry Out Loud
 - tribute to Osmon, expands audience through DCAC Collaboration

Dare County Schools 2012 district Poetry Out Loud competition was held on January 12 at The Front Porch Cafe in Nags Head.  Coordinated by FFHS English Department Chair Amy Powell, the final contestants were First Flight High School seniors Becca DeLucia and Aubrey Butcher, Manteo High School senior Abigael McGaha and MHS  junior Paul Davis. English teacher Anna Thomas coordinated POL at MHS this year. DeLucia, a district POL veteran - competing as a sophomore in 2010 - won the contest with classmate Aubrey Butcher coming in as runner-up.

Created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud is administered in partnership with state and local art councils. Poetry Out Loud (POL) encourages youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

This years' local event was held collaboratively with the Dare County Arts Council's Open Mic Night.The approach of combining POL with DCAC's January open mic night brought out a larger and more diverse audience than either event would have drawn solo. Kip Tabb, DCAC Board Member and Literary Arts chair, kicked off the evening with a welcome and introduced Powell. 

As Powell recognized judges and volunteers, before introducing the students to perform their recitations, she acknowledged former MHS English Department Chair and colleague Julie Osmon. "I would like to dedicate this competition to Julie Workman Osmon, a former MHS English teacher and POL district coordinator, whose passion for the program brought it to Dare County," said Powell.  "Julie passed away in August, and I wanted to continue this program to honor her legacy. I am certain that she would be pleased to see how this project has evolved into a true community collaboration."

Between rounds, FFHS Creative Writing students Rae George and Connie Baron, along with 2011 FFHS grad Kelly Tackett, read from selected and original works. Participants in the DCAC open mic night - including celebrated local author Suzanne Tate -  held the floor while results from the competition were being tallied.

Tabb served as DCAC representative among the three recitation judges; he was joined by PTSO reps, Garnette Guyton (MHS), and Steve McFarlane (FFHS). Serving also were FFHS teachers Skip Saunders (accuracy judge), Jennifer Kinnisten (tabulator), and Robin Holton (prompter). Several other teachers joined parents and friends in the audience to support the efforts of the four participants.

 

Aubrey Butcher was first up, in the first round she recited A.D. Snodgrass’ A Locked House, and for the second round, a poem by Queen Elizabeth I, On Monsieur’s Departure; Paul Davis followed with Emily Dickinson’s Hope is a Thing with Feathers, and later with Langston Hughes’ The Negro Speaks of Rivers; Becca DeLucia’s winning recitations were Cornelius Eady’s I am a Fool to Love You, and Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Invitation to Love; an animated Abigael McGaha recited renditions of Pity the Beautiful, by Dana Gioia, and Rondeau, by Leigh Hunt.

Dare County Arts Council Executive Director Laura Martier collaborated with Powell to promote the event. “Dare County Arts Council congratulates Becca and all of the students who worked so hard to compete in the Poetry Out Loud competition. The creativity and talent that exists in our community never ceases to amaze me,” noted Martier.  “DCAC is grateful for the opportunity to help support such valuable programming and commends the teachers who work so hard to make it possible for their students."

With her district achievement, Becca advances to the state competition in Greensboro in March. Powell extended a special thanks to PTSOs of MHS and FFHS for contributing a travel stipend for the winner each year, as well as to DCAC for the shared venue to introduce POL to the local arts community.

 

 

Literary Open Mic Night

Our next Literary Open Mic Night kicks off Literary Arts Weekend!  It will be held at 6:30pm on Friday October 14th at DCAC's Interim Gallery space MP 4.75 Kitty Hawk (between Trio wine bar and Spa Vogue)...all writers welcome! 

     
Literary crowd at the Front Porch Cafe          Pat Hayward addresses the group