Overview

The Watering Hole Winter Retreat, the only retreat of its kind in the US South, has grown into one of the most respected and soul-nourishing literary gatherings for poets of color. We are a southern-based vanguard that builds Harlem Renaissance-style spaces in the contemporary South.We understand “the South” not as a fixed geography, but as a cultural and historical orientation.What began as a vision to build educational spaces for Southern-based writers has evolved into an international community of artists committed to craft, kinship, and cultural legacy.

Each year, from December 26 to December 30, The Watering Hole welcomes 50 to 60 BIPOC writers to Santee State Park, South Carolina for five immersive days of workshops, study, and community.

Workshop Fellows gather in small groups of 10 to 14 and take workshop courses that include lectures, analysis, discussions, writing prompts, reading assignments, etc. The purpose of the workshops is to learn craft and generate new work.

Upon attending the 1st retreat, applicants become TWH Fellows. TWH Fellows reapply as normal for future years and receive priority during selection. Upon completing the 3rd retreat, Fellows become Graduate Fellows. The Watering Hole is proud to have nurtured and hosted some of today’s most visionary writers. Notable alumni include – Itiola Jones, Willie Lee Kinard III, and Julian Randall. Past faculty have included literary luminaries such as Jericho Brown, Fanny Choi, Patricia Smith, and Paul Tran.