POEMS ON METRO TRANSIT BUSSES
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Students, who are enrolled in a Madison high school during the 2007/2008 school year, are invited to submit up to three (3) original, unpublished poems to the Madison Arts Commission's (MAC) competition Bus Lines. Selected poems will be printed and displayed on metro transit busses. Poems can be submitted in any language, but must also include an English language translation. Each poem must be no longer than eight (8) lines. One school faculty (a teacher, Minority Service Coordinator, ESL teacher, guidance counselor, etc.) who supports the student's entry, must be identified on each application. That mentor can assist the applicant throughout the process. The school staff sponsor should help the applicant select their strongest and most appropriate work. Applicants whose work is selected will be asked for consent to have their name published and work reproduced.
There is no cost to enter. There will be no monetary prize awarded to students whose work is selected.
A selection committee, including Madison's Poet Laureate, a representative of the Madison Arts Commission, Madison Public Library, and Madison Metropolitan School District will choose poems in May. Finalists and semi-finalists will be notified in June. It is anticipated that (9) nine selected poems will appear on metro transit busses in the fall of 2008.
The nine selected poets, and additionally chosen semi-finalists, may be invited to have their work published in other formats, on MAC's web site, and in promotional material for the program. In addition, finalists and semi-finalists are invited to read their poems at the Wisconsin Book Festival in October of 2008 and may be invited to other public readings or events.
Applicants whose poem is chosen in one calendar year may not apply to this program in the following year.
Entries will be accepted during National Poetry Month from April 1 to April 30, 2008.
