Lenoir, NC – The Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC announces the inaugural Western NC Regional Online Poetry Competition. Sponsored by Blue Ridge Energy, the competition is open to writers 18 and up who live in 31 western North Carolina counties. Submissions of up to two original poems will be accepted for the low entry fee of $10.

The competition will feature preliminary judge David Prather of Parkersburg, West Virginia and final judge Kari Gunter-Seymour, who is the Ohio Poet Laureate. A total of $1200 in cash prizes will be awarded.

The deadline for submissions is midnight on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 with winners being notified by October 15, 2020. Winning poems will be posted on the Caldwell Arts Council website, and winning writers will have the opportunity to join the judges in an online poetry reading via Zoom on the evening of Thursday, October 22, 2020. For complete competition information including counties of residence, electronic submission guidelines and payment details, please visit www.caldwellarts.com.