Media Guide

Local Organizations to Provide Scholarships for Students to Attend Poetry and Politics Conference

CONCORD, NH-March 17, 2003->The Poetry Society of New Hampshire and Federal Savings Bank of Dover have added their names to a growing list of organizations that are sponsoring students to attend the Poetry and Politics conference on Saturday, April 26. So far a total of eight scholarships have been awarded, spearheaded by three scholarships from the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program, and followed by three from the Poetry Society of New Hampshire, and two from Federal Savings Bank of Dover.

The Poetry and Politics conference, initiated by NH Poet Laureate Marie Harris and produced by the New Hampshire Writers Project in association with the Academy of American Poets and the State of New Hampshire's Department of Cultural Resources, will gather over 20 state laureates from throughout the country to New Hampshire for a day of statewide readings on Friday April 25, and a day of panel discussions revolving around the role of the poet in society. Along with the state poets, these panels will include prominent leaders in the fields of education, science, politics, theology, education and the media.

"The Poetry Society is pleased to to be able to sponsor three Manchester area high school students to attend the conference. This is a rare opportunity for these students to rub shoulders with Poets Laureate from across the country, and a rare opportunity for the Poets Laureate to hear what these young people have to say about the state of poetry," said Pat Frisella, president of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire.

Vickie Routhier, VP of Marketing for Federal Savings Bank added. "We're glad to create this opportunity for interested students from Somersworth who might not otherwise be able to attend."

Marie Harris, who was the originator of the Poetry and Politics concept, said, "This is an excellent and very targeted way for the business and arts community to become involved with high school students. We welcome further contributions from businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring students from other areas of the state." The participating students will be chosen by teachers, administrators and galleries.

The Poetry and Politics conference is part of a weekend full of activities dedicated to encouraging a discussion of the poet in society. On Friday the visiting poets laureate will be reading their poetry at numerous locations throughout the state. Saturday the day-long conference will include panel discussions between the poets and leading politicians, members of the media, academics and business people will take place at The Highlander Inn and Conference Center in Manchester. Panel discussions include the Poet as Citizen, Poetry and Education, Poetry and Community, Human Creativity and the Brain, Poetry and the Media, Poets and Politicians, and Poetry and the Spirit. Saturday night, a gala dinner at the Center of NH will celebrate the gathering of poets and recognize the state's supporters of poetry and the arts, with a keynote speech by the incoming Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, poet and essayist Dana Gioia.

Poetry and Politics is a collaborative project that is being produced by the New Hampshire Writers' Project in association with the Academy of American Poets and the State of New Hampshire, through the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding support from Jefferson Pilot Financial, Verizon, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire Humanities Council and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

For information on the PPLP, please contact: info@pplp.org or 772-4345. For information on the Poetry and Politics: Nations of the Mind Conference, go to www.poetryandpolitics.org or contact the NH Writers Project at nhwp@rcn.com 603/226-6649.