FAQs Page for Haiku Fest 2010 Chicago Illinois, a FREE poetry event for elementary school children 8 to 14 years old

Haiku Festival 2010 FAQs
Who is eligible? Students in grades 4th through 8th (ages 8 to 14) are eligible for Haiku Fest.
Is Haiku Festival open to all 8 to 14-year-old poets?
Must winners be present to win?
Haiku Fest is open to poets ages 8 to 14 who are able to attend the Annual Awards Program. Winners must read her/his poem in person at the Awards Program.
What is "haiku," and what does the word mean?
Haiku is a brief poetry form with 13th-century Japanese roots. Haiku were originally called "hokku," which means "starting verse." Early haiku poets were called "haijin."
What format shall I use? For the Haiku Festival, each haiku must be three (3) printed lines, totaling 17 syllables: 5-7-5 (line 1: 5 syllables, line 2: 7 syllables, line 3: 5 syllables).
Are there topic restrictions for Haiku Fest entries?
There are no topic restrictions. Poets may submit haiku on any subject as long as the poem meets official guidelines.
What are the Prizes? 1st Prize: $100; 2nd Prize: $50; 3rd Prize: $25; Founder's Award: $20; and several Honorable Mention Prizes. Winners read their poems at the public Haiku Festival Awards Program.
Does everyone win a prize? Yes, each participating poet receives a Certificate of Achievement and the opportunity to read her/his poem at the Haiku Festival Awards Program.
When is the 2010 deadline? The DEADLINE for poetry submissions will be Saturday, 13 March 2010 @ midnight.
When are Haiku Fest 2010 winners announced? Finalists will be announced 3 April 2010. Please check our website, your email, and with your teacher.
Where do I send my poem? Poets ages 8 to 14 must submit a written version of ONE original poem on www.HaikuFest.com or via U. S. mail to:
Haiku Fest, Post Office Box 450, Chicago, IL 60690 (Questions: 312-458-9898).
What happens to my poem once I submit it to Haiku Festival? Your poem is compiled anonymously with all other entries and sent to a Panel of Judges. Each Judge reads all entries and nominates poems to receive a cash award, prize, etc. The Judges collectively vote to bestow commendations upon the top poems. The Judges’ decision is final. All Haiku Fest participants agree to have their poems appear on/in the Haiku Fest website, advertisements and annals. Haiku Fest Annals are stored at Tulane University’s Amistad Research Center and Columbia College Chicago’s Center for Black Music Research.
Do all poets read at the Annual Awards ceremony?
Each Annual Awards Program includes all Prize Winners and an Open Microphone. All poets who submit a poem are invited to read during the open mike segment of the program. In the interest of time, Prize Winners and the first 10-15 students to sign in comprise the one-hour awards program.
What are the symbols that appear on the Haiku Festival's website? Our Haiku Fest logo consists of two (2) Japanese characters. 俳 is the symbol for "actor." 句 is the symbol for "sentence." These two represent the haiku poet and poetry respectively.
Who founded Haiku Festival? Click here for info on the Founder.
Who sponsors Haiku Festival? Click here for Honor Roll of Donors.
What is the Gwendolyn Brooks Award? Haiku Festival’s Gwendolyn Brooks Award is made possible by a generous donation from Valerie Wallace, in honor of the poet Gwendolyn Brooks, who attended Chicago public schools and won the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. The prize is $25.00. All Haiku Fest participants who attend Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will automatically be considered. All Haiku Festival rules, deadlines, etcetera, apply. Winner must be enrolled in a CPS during the consideration process; and must be at the Awards Program to read her or his poem.
Who are the Haiku Festival Judges? Click here for Judges.
How can I become a Sponsor or Judge? Haiku Festival welcomes sponsors and prospective judges. To become a sponsor, make your check payable to "Haiku Festival" and mail it to Haiku Festival, Post Office Box 450, Chicago, IL 60690. To contact us by phone, please call 312-458-9898. In-kind donations are welcome and encouraged. To become a Haiku Festival Judge, please email us at: Info@HaikuFest.com
Does Haiku Festival have a wish list? Haiku Fest can always use a helping hand. Wish list items include first-class postage stamps; #10 and 9x12 envelopes and paper for a laser jet printer; paper for certificates; ink cartridges for an HP 4050 laser jet printer; card stock paper for Awards Program booklets; underwriters for printing; underwriters for Judges’ lunch meeting; underwriters for Awards Program reception; underwriters for database management. As our needs develop, we will keep you informed.
What is Renga? “Renga” is linked verse that is related to haiku. Renga uses three-lines stanzas, followed by two-line stanzas. Each three-line stanza consists of 5-7-7 syllables; each two-line stanza consists of 7-7 syllables. Three-line haiku stanzas are linked by two-line stanzas. Renga poets contribute lines from as far away as Ireland, Michigan, California, Ohio, North Carolina, throughout Illinois and points in between.
Who designed the Haiku Fest website? The Haiku Fest website was designed by BCG Designs and presented to Haiku Fest as a generous in-kind donation. Photos were taken by Sidney Simmons, Dorothy Perry, Marc Monghan and Greg Baiocchi. We gratefully acknowledge these invaluable contributions: Thank you ad infinitum!

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Haiku Festival 2010 FAQs

Haiku Fest Deadline: Saturday 13 March 2010 @ MIDNIGHT

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