In the Company of Laureates, a day of poetry, Oct. 8 at the Hylton Center

On Sunday, Oct. 8, from 1 to 5 p.m., the Hylton Performing Arts Center (HPAC) will host “In the Company of Laureates.”  From 1 to 2 p.m., local Poets Laureate will read in Merchant Hall.  From 2 to 3 p.m.there will be an open mic and break out workshops.  From 3 to 4 p.m., State Poets Laureate will read in Merchant Hall, and from 4 to 5 p.m. there will be another open mic and more activities.   

“In the Company of Laureates” is a unique literary event, free for the public to meet our local Poets Laureate and Poets Laureate from Virginia, and five neighboring states who will spread excitement and love of their craft through a full schedule of performances, activities and workshops.  This event coincides with Prince William County’s official Poet Laureate Day, Oct. 8, 2017.

Sponsored by the PWC Arts Council and The Clearbrook Foundation, this day of poetry has been organized by the Poet Laureate Circle, an ever expanding group of poets in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.  The Poet Laureate Circle was formed in May 2014 when radio personality Guy Lambert of WPGC- 95.5 crowned the first Prince William County Poets Laureate, Robert Scott and Alexandra Hailey, at SummerFest in Lake Ridge, VA.  In 2016, Guy crowned Kathy Smaltz, our county’s current reigning Poet Laureate. 

Through the efforts of its founder, June Forte, and The Poet Laureate Circle’s current organizers, Alice Mergler and Cathy Hailey, and its active members, poetry is reaching a wider audience and elevating the literary arts in Prince William County.