Poetry Contest Rules
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Inmates in the penitentiary's
library circa 1950
Photo Credit: ISHS
Contest
April is National Poetry Month and in celebration the Old Idaho Penitentiary is sponsoring the 5th Annual "Caged Inspiration" Poetry Contest. We are calling for participants to write poems of 150 words or less, drawing inspiration from the historic Old Idaho Penitentiary. Your poetry can be about anything directly related to the history of the Old Penitentiary: Inmates, Guards, Prison Cells, Buildings, etc.
Limit 2 entries per person
Age Categories
Children - 11 and Under
Teens - 12-17
Adults - 18 and Up
Prizes
A panel of judges* will select three poems in each age category: Honorable Mention, 1st Runner Up and First Place.
- Honorable Mention – 2 Passes to the Old Idaho Penitentiary, Poetry displayed at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, 2 Idaho Historical Museum Passes, Old Pen gift shop prizes, and more!
- 1st Runner-Up – 3 Passes to the Old Idaho Penitentiary, Poetry displayed at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, 3 Idaho Historical Museum Passes, Old Pen gift shop prizes, and more!
- 1st Place – A private, behind the scenes tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary for 10, Poetry displayed at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, 4 Idaho Historical Museum Passes, Old Pen gift bucket, Old Spaghetti Factory gift certificate, and more!
- (logo of Old Spaghetti Factory)
- For 1st Place Child and/or Teen winner: Free school tour for your entire grade! Up to 100 students.
* Judges include representatives from the Old Idaho Penitentiary and Boise State University: Albertson's Library.
Awards Ceremony
May 2, 2013
Will be held at the Fettuccine Forum
in the historic Rose Room downtown Boise, Union Block
Doors open at 5:00 pm
How to Enter
Complete the Poetry Contest form with your poem. Click Here for the ENTRY FORM
Poetry entries should be mailed to or dropped off at the Old Idaho Penitentiary. All entries Due Friday April 26th no later than 5:00pm.
IMPORTANT: Please include your age and/or the age category!
***TEACHER NOTICE- You can mail in poems from your class together, but please make sure every child uses the "Poem Entry Form" and note their name and age clearly.
Entries due Friday, April 26th no later than 5:00pm!
Mail-in Entries
Old Idaho Penitentiary
Attn:// Poetry Contest
2445 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
Drop-off Entries
Old Idaho Penitentiary
Attn:// Poetry Contest
2445 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712