Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest

• POL Midlands Regional Competition
  Time: 2 p.m.
  Date: Jan. 16
  Location: Sumter Little Theatre, 14 Mood Avenue, Sumter

   

  Counties: Edgefield, Saluda, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Darlington, Marlboro, Aiken, Lexington, Richland, Sumter, Florence, Marion, Dillon, Calhoun and Horry

   

  Regional partner: Booth Chilcutt, executive director, Sumter County Cultural Commission (at Patriot Hall); (803) 436-2260 or (803) 468-2389

   

• POL Upstate Regional Competition
  Time: 2 p.m.
  Date: Jan. 23
  Location: Showroom at Hub-Bub, 149 S Daniel Morgan Ave., Spartanburg

   

  Counties: Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, York, Lancaster, Chesterfield, Anderson, Laurens, Union, Chester, Abbeville, McCormick and Greenwood

   

  Regional Partner:  Betsy Teter, executive director, Hub City Writers Project, (864) 577-9349 or (864) 706-4407

   

• POL Lowcountry Regional Competition
  Time: 2 p.m.
  Date: Jan. 24
  Location: College of Charleston Alumni Memorial Hall, Randolph Hall, 65 George Street, Charleston

   

  Counties: Barnwell, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Clarendon, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Allendale, Hampton, Colleton, Dorchester, Berkeley, Jasper, Beaufort and Charleston

   

  Regional Partner: Keverlee Burchett, Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts, (843) 276-2555

   

• POL State Finals
  Time: 1-3 p.m.
  Date: March 20
  Location: Columbia Museum of Art., Corner of Main and Hampton Streets, Columbia, SC

   

  Contact:  Frances Kablick, POL Program Coordinator, (803) 734-8639

   

  The state finals will include three equally ranked finalists from each region.