Maureen Morehead as Poet Laureate

Kentucky Arts Council News Release Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet April 1, 2011 Contact: Ed Lawrence, Communications Director at ed.lawrence@ky.gov 502-564-3757, ext. 473 Kentucky Arts Council inducts Maureen Morehead as Poet Laureate at Kentucky Writers’ Day

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Arts Council will celebrate Kentucky Writers’ Day at 11 a.m. EDT, April 25, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda, Frankfort. Poet, writer and teacher Maureen Morehead of Louisville will be formally inducted as Kentucky Poet Laureate for the two-year term of 2011 – 2012. Morehead was appointed to the honorary post by Gov. Steve Beshear to promote the literary arts in Kentucky through readings and public presentations at meetings, seminars, conferences and events, including Kentucky Writers’ Day. Morehead will be joined by former Kentucky Poets Laureate Gurney Norman, Jane Gentry, Sena Jeter Naslund, Joe Survant and Richard Taylor in presenting readings of their work. Kentucky state Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest first-place winner Torie DiMartile of Beechwood High School in Ft. Mitchell and second-place winner Tyler Poteet of Butler Traditional High School in Louisville will recite selected poems. Lindy Casebier, deputy secretary, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, will present DiMartile and Poteet the official awards for their accomplishments. A special reception to honor all Kentucky writers will follow at noon on the mezzanine level of the Capitol. This is an opportunity to congratulate Morehead, talk with Kentucky’s poets laureate and mingle with other readers and writers. This event is free and open to the public. The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Maureen Morehead Kentucky Poet Laureate 2011-2012

Torie DiMartile wins 6th annual Poetry Out Loud

March 8, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Communications Director - Ed Lawrence @ ed.lawrence@ky.gov or calling 502-564-3757, ext. 473

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Torie DiMartile, a senior at Beechwood High School, Ft. Mitchell, emerged as the winner among the 21 high school champions from across the Commonwealth who competed in the sixth annual Poetry Out Loud state finals today in Frankfort. DiMartile was the second place winner in 2010 and 2009.

DiMartile was both excited and poised when she talked about winning the statewide poetry recitation competition presented by the Kentucky Arts Council. “Wow, I didn’t believe after 3 years, I finally came in first,” said DiMartile. “I always liked all kinds of writing, but I never really enjoyed poetry until Poetry Out Loud. When I get on stage, the words seem to come off the page and into the audience and now I love poetry. Poetry Out Loud has also taught me to be a better speaker, a better reader and a better writer.”

Torie DiMartile’s mother, Pat DiMartile also had complimentary words for Poetry Out Loud. “I think it’s wonderful. Before Tori became involved, I didn’t care for poetry. Now I read poetry and listen with a different ear.”

As winner of the state finals, DiMartile and chaperone will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete with other state champions in the National Finals, April 27-29, 2011. Beechwood High School will also receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books for its library. The Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest will award $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes to winners and top finalists.

Tyler Poteet, a senior at Butler Traditional High School, Louisville was named second place winner. He will receive a $100 cash prize and $200 for his school to purchase library books.

Both DiMartile and Poteet will be invited to recite poems at the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Writers’ Day celebration April 25, 2011, in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

The Poetry Out Loud state finals are presented by the Kentucky Arts Council in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, as part of the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition.

Competing students and their school supporters were able to travel from Kentucky cities as far away as Paducah and Pineville this year because the arts council received a state travel grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to increase the range of outreach across the Commonwealth. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation is honored to provide travel support for regional and state finals of Poetry Out Loud in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Kentucky Writers' Day

The Kentucky Arts Council will celebrate Kentucky Writers' Day at 10am Friday, April 23rd in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

Past Kentucky Poets laureate Jane Gentry Vance (2007-2008), Sena Jeter Naslund (2005-2006), Joe Survant (2003-2004), and Richard Taylor (1999-2000) will give readings of their work as part of the event.

A special receiption to honor all Kentucky writers will follow at 11am on the mezzanine level of the Capitol. "Five Kentucky Poets Laureate: An Anthology," "Abraham Lincoln of Kentucky" and poet laureat broadsides will be offered for sale at the reception.

Kentucky Writers' Day is officially April 24 in honor of the birth date of Kentucky native Robert Penn Warren, the first poet laureate of the United States and winner of three Pulitzer prizes.

This event is free and open to the public.