GUIDELINES

 Eligibility:
  •  All adults (age 20+), living inside or outside the U.S.A., are eligible to enter the Adult Competition.
  • Staff and board of Public Poetry, the staff of Writers In The Schools and the staff of the Inquiry & Learning Department at the MFAH are not allowed to submit to this competition.
  • Deadline: extended to midnight on Monday, December 15, 2014.  Early Entry fees are extended to November 30.
Submissions:
  • All entries must be submitted electronically from the Entry Form  page on this site. ·
  • All poems submitted must be original work.
  • Poem may respond to any of the five works of art shown on the Artworks page link
  • Multiple submissions are allowed. Each poem must be submitted separately.
    •  more than one poem about the same artwork is allowed.
  • Title of the poem and the title of the artwork to which you are responding must be identified on both the poem submitted and on the Entry Form.
  • No personal information is  allowed on the poem submitted; use the Entry Form only.
  •  Confirmation acknowledging receipt of your entry will be sent.
 Entry Fees:
  •  The EarlyEntry fee (thru Nov 30) is $16 for the first poem and $10 for each additional poem
  • The entry fee after Nov 30 is $20 for the first poem and $16 for each additional poem.
Writing & Formatting:
  • Entries must be inspired by the artworks linked to this site
  • All forms of poetry are accepted
  • A maximum of 40 lines (or 300 words if prose poetry) per poem.
  • Language must be appropriate for museum audiences.
Judging:
  • Five independent judges: Robert Pinsky, David M. Parsons, Patricia Smith, Mary Szybist and Roberto Tejado
  • Each judge will be assigned to a different artwork, and independently select one winner and seven finalists. (totaling 5 winning poems and 35 finalists’ poems.)
  • Entries will be read & judged blind, so that no personal information is visible.
  • The competition will adhere to CLMP guidelines and code of ethics.
  • Judges are required to excuse themselves from voting on any poem where they can identify the author.
  • Poems will be checked with anti-plagiarism software.

 

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