Lansing — Due to the impacts of COVID-19 in Michigan and recommendations on preventative measures from Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan’s Poetry Out Loud State Finals event has been postponed. The competition was scheduled to take place on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, in Lansing.

“The health of the participating students, family members, teachers, judges, emcees, workshop leaders, special guests, and staff is our top priority as we move forward with this decision,” said Michigan Humanities President and CEO Shelly Hendrick Kasprzycki.

Program partners at 36 schools across Michigan were notified of the postponement on Wednesday afternoon. An alternative State Finals competition will be planned for a later date.

Michigan’s Poetry Out Loud program is part of a national initiative and funded through a partnership between Michigan Humanities and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Additional support is generously provided by the Liesel Litzenburger Meijer Fund, Meijer, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment

for the Humanities, and the Poetry Foundation.