Island Writers' Network

Poetry Trail of Hilton Head Island

what’s this all about, you ask?

Well, first, it’s all about the poets. Did you know Hilton Head Island is packed with poets? Award-winning, multi-published, open mic slamming’ all-around jamming’ actual poets? Come on in! Meet us! We’ve got a trail of reading just for you. If you are here, you have found at least one such poet. What location number was it? Where did you find it? Because whoever you found, there are 23 more across the island! Some of the featured poets are:

Elizabeth Robin

Miho Kinnas

Phil Lindsey

Barry Dickson

Lola Campbell

Sofia Segura

Bill Borg

Bill Newby

Denise Spencer

LuAnn Winkle

Second, it’s all about cool ways to see our island! The idea came about as a marriage of technology, creative writing, public art, and arts-minded businesses. It’s a new way to see Hilton Head Island: through the eyes of the poets who live in the area. Confused, wondering What is it? as you stare at the huge sculpture Carocol in Shelter Cove Park? Scan the trail sign and Elizabeth Abrams gives you one interpretation with “O’Keefe’s Woody Orchid.” It’s the kind of collaboration that makes the arts an experience.

Third, it’s all about collaboration! The project is a partnership between the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Island Writers’ Network. Restaurants and art shops and theaters and historic spots are involved, and the poems just add to their stories. Here are some of our poetry hosts:

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

Gullah Museum

HHI Sculpture Installations

HHSO Soundwaves

Picture This Gallery

Redfish

Rollers

Tio’s

And finally, it’s all about keeping it fresh. Every season of the year, the poems at most stops will be switched out for others. As we said, we’re packed with poets, so we’ll swap out poems regularly so that you can meet all of them. Plus, that reading trail will keep changing, so you can visit again and again and it will always feel new.

How does it work? Along the trail are easy-to-find, numbered signs containing two QR codes. One takes you to a poem written by a poet living in the area, plus bonus information about that poet. The other takes you to the trail’s Facebook page, where you can find the entire route. There, you can plan a full tour, or comment on the poem, the art, or the business you visited along the way. Scanning the sign allows the Office of Cultural Affairs to track traffic, key data that helps direct new projects in our arts community.