Word UP! 2009
Rules

The participants in the WORD UP! spoken word contest will be the winners of the contests held at their schools. Each school is responsible for holding its own contest and selecting a winner and a runner-up. Depending on the number of schools that elect to participate, we may ask each school to send the top winner OR the winner and runner-up to the February 22nd contest.

• TThe deadline for schools to sign on to participate is December 12, 2008. Please designate a contact person for the contest and e-mail that person’s name, school, phone number, and e-mail address to Haruyo Miyagawa (hm@bham.lib.al.us).
• TThe deadline for schools to submit the names of the winners of the school contests is January 30, 2009. Please submit a registration form for each contestant to Haruyo Miyagawa. The form can be found on the website.

• The poem must be the contestant’s own creation and be inspired by one of the pre-selected works of art at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Images of these works will also be on the web site
• The performance must be appropriate for all ages. No profanity allowed.
• Contestants need to arrive at the Birmingham Museum of Art by 1:15 p.m. on the day of the contest.
• Each poet will have three minutes to perform. Time yourself! You will be penalized if you go over three minutes.
• Contestants are not allowed to read the poems or to have a copy of the poems with them during the performance.
• Artists may rap the poem(s).
• No instruments or props may be used.
• Only individual/solo performances will be allowed. No groups or duos.
• A panel of three judges will select the winners. Contestants will be judged on content and performance.
• The top contestants will perform at Alabama Bound, the annual author fair which will be held at the Central Library of the Birmingham Public Library on March 28, 2009.