LITERARY ARTS 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT Attendees during a free @LiteraryArts event at our community center in downtown Portland. At Literary Arts, we create opportunities for readers and WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR WHO WE ARE writers of all ages and walks of life to engage with literature. Stories are powerful. The stories that get told define who we Literary Arts Staff Jon Raymond Andrew Proctor, Executive Bob Speltz are for ourselves and others. Who has the opportunity to tell their Director Thomas Wood Maggie Allen Patron Advisory Council Amanda Bullock Each year, we invite you to hear world-famous authors in the story and who does not? And who has an audience that Katherine O’Neil, Chair Lydah DeBin Seth Alley is listening, reading, and engaging with that story? Alanna Faelan Kim Bissell James Gendron concert hall and on the radio. We ask you to support emerging Marian Creamer Megan Gex The history of who can tell their story and who is listening is part Rebecca DeCesaro Jennifer Gurney Ann Emmerson India Hamilton writers, young and old, during community events and student of the history of oppression, prejudice, and privilege. At Literary Sarah Gibbon Hunt Holman Sara Guest Arts we acknowledge that, as Oregonians, we have been part of Ramiza Koya Susan Hathaway-Marxer Allegra Lopez readings. We offer you a seat at writing classes and reading Phillip M. Margolin this history. Susan Moore Carolyn McKinney Liz Olufson Vanessa McLaughlin Chelsea Querner seminars, where you can build community with other literary We are committed to a different future. One in which all members Nancy Ponzi Joanna Rose Anna Raman of our community have the opportunity to tell their stories, Dao Strom Jim Reinhart enthusiasts. We invite you to explore all forms of literature, from Mel Wells particularly members of our communities of color. Dru Rosenthal Literary Arts Board of Barbara Sepenuk storytelling to slam poetry. At Literary Arts, we invite you to find We have begun to make some programmatic progress in this area. Directors Roslyn Sutherland Jacqueline Willingham, Chair Kristi Wallace Knight For example, we have significantly increased the resources we give Jill Abere Kim Weyler your story here, in whatever form it may take. Mike Barr Carl Wilson to writers of color and have expanded our education program into Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm Oregon Book Awards & East Multnomah County. We regularly partner with culturally Ginnie Cooper Fellowships Advisory Alice Cuprill-Comas Council Rebecca DeCesaro specific organizations at our downtown event space and highlight Jon Raymond, Chair Amy Donohue Tom Booth Theo Downes-Le Guin writers of color in all our programs, and we have focused on staff Nancy Boutin Marie Eckert Karyle Butcher and board trainings and conversations around equity on a Susan Hammer OUR MISSION IS TO ENGAGE READERS, SUPPORT Julie Dixon Betsy Henning Rhonda Hughes continual basis. Karen Karbo Cecelia Huntington Deidra Miner WRITERS, AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION Linda Leslie Anis Mojgani We consider this progress a start and are committed Meghan Moran Katherine O’Neil Tony Perez WITH GREAT LITERATURE. to deepening this work. Ramón Pagán Dennis Steinman Amy Prosenjak Sonja Thomas Jon Raymond We cannot do this work alone, and we are grateful to all of our Armin Tolentino Bob Speltz partner organizations and individuals who support our mission to Amy Wayson Youth Programs Advisory Thomas Wood Council Ginnie Cooper, Chair better serve more Oregonians. Strunk & White Society IN THIS REPORT Carmen Bernier-Grand An honorary society of distinguished With appreciation, advisors Alex Dang Gwyneth Gamble Booth Jacque Dixon From the Director 3 Inspire the Next Generation 10 Nancy Bragdon Joan Fondell Larry Colton Diana Gerding Writers in the Schools Residencies Andre Goodlow Who We Are 3 Jodi Delahunt Hubbell Student Readings Bart Eberwein Jonathan Hill Brian Gard Susheela Jayapal Introduction to Our Programs 5 Students to the Schnitz Diana Gerding Joaquin Lopez College Essay Mentorship Molly Gloss Manuel Mateo Carrie Hoops Anis Mojgani Engage Readers 6 Verselandia! Cecelia Huntington Nancy Sullivan Portland Arts & Lectures Andrew Proctor, Executive Director Susheela Jayapal Catherine Theriault [email protected] Barry Lopez Kristin Walrod Portland Book Festival (formerly Wordstock) Development & Financial Activities 12 Julie Mancini Tracey Wyatt Sharon Wynde The Archive Project Brenda Meltebeke Our Supporters 14 Jessica Mozeico Festival Advisory Council Everybody Reads Diane Ponti Karen Karbo, Chair Michael Powell Neil Aitken Special Events A Look Ahead 18 Per Ramfjord Julie Bunker Halle Sadle Sarah Carlberg Delve Readers’ Seminars Steven Taylor Liz Crain Find Your Story 19 Steve Wynne Rachel Fershleiser Support Writers 8 Development Council Jennifer Abel Kovitz B. Frayn Masters Oregon Book Awards Jacqueline Willingham, Chair Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm Susan Moore Oregon Literary Fellowships Joan Cirillo Olivia Olivia Ginnie Cooper Steph Opitz Oregon Book Awards Tour Amy Donohue Sarah Rothenfluch Writing Classes Susan Hammer Heidi Schulz Betsy Henning Rob Spillman @LiteraryArts Events Earl Hines Dao Strom Jan Oliva Alicia Tate Andrew Proctor Lidia Yuknavitch Amy Prosenjak Gail Zuro 2 3 Many of our live literary events “ Literary Arts is an amazing featured authors discussing the most 20,000 important social issues of our day, READERS from race in America to the effects organization doing necessary, ENGAGED of global migration. vital work in the community. They reach across boundaries and bring so many different people together around books. A total of $70,000 More than 4,000 youth In doing so, they create was awarded to participated in Youth 1,500 local writers and 4,000 Programs including over WRITERS publishers, our most YOUTH 1,000 students who community.” generous fellowship participated in creative SUPPORTED award to date. INSPIRED writing residencies. — Jesmyn Ward, 2017/2018 Portland Arts & Lectures author, two-time National Book Award winner Each year, our programs bring more than 20,000 Oregonians together to explore the many ways literature can enrich our lives. Over the past year, we have seen record attendance at our events. From the 10,000 attendees at the Portland Book Festival to the more than 1,000 students producing work through our writing residencies, our community has shown us the importance of creating spaces for people to find their story. 4 5 EVERYBODY READS 2018 In partnership with Multnomah County Library and the Library Foundation, this year’s Everybody Reads program featured Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. During his time in Portland, Hamid discussed his experience as an immigrant and the stigmas that are placed on refugees around the world. PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL 1,700 attendees, HAS A NEW NAME! including 740 students. In June, Wordstock: Portland’s Book Festival was renamed to, simply, the Portland Book Festival. ENGAGE By referring to our city, we reflect the civic nature of “This was the best the event, and we clarify for our attendees, authors, lecture I’ve heard in and partners (both locally and nationally) the nature of the festival as a major event and one that puts years and so needed readers at the forefront. at this time in our READERS country. It was water to my soul.” Literary Arts brought some of the world’s most — Everybody Reads celebrated authors to engage with our local 2018 attendee PORTLAND BOOK FESTIVAL community. Our season of events featured more than (FORMERLY WORDSTOCK) 150 authors whose lectures, readings, and discussions We saw record attendance across all age groups at the Portland Book DELVE READERS SEMINARS Festival. The 2017 Festival included dedicated stages for Children’s, Each year, we continue to experiment with the subject matter and inspired more than 20,000 readers of all ages. Middle Grade, and Young Adult literature. The author lineup format of our Delve Readers Seminars to engage a community of featured a mix of more than 135 local and national writers such as passionate readers and seminar guides. In partnership with the Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jeffrey Eugenides, Claire Messud, Morgan Parker, Portland Art Museum, local writer Coleman Stevenson hosted Tom Perotta, and Lidia Yuknavitch. a seminar on the commonalities in the ways writers and visual artists recreate the human experience. During the six-week More than 10,000 attendees. seminar, fifteen students explored works by modern and contemporary writers alongside the beautiful visual art in the 1,544 students received free admission. museum galleries. 279 participants enrolled in 20 seminars. PORTLAND ARTS “So many fun activities and events to see, and the delightful opportunity to be surrounded by & LECTURES thousands of book people all engaging with similar “I applaud Literary Arts’ In addition to presenting to a sold-out audience at the Arlene topics and conversations.” willingness to open Schnitzer Concert Hall, our five visiting authors engaged with —Portland Book Festival attendee wide the big tent of readers and writers of all ages in the community. For example, Man Booker Prize-winning author George Saunders spoke with intellectual curiosity. students at Madison High School and engaged with local writers I love embedding at our community space in downtown Portland. THE ARCHIVE PROJECT myself deeply into a piece of fiction to spy 2,500 annual subscribers. Now in its fourth season, The Archive Project rebroadcasts a wide range of Literary Arts programming, including recordings from on how it was made, Portland Arts & Lectures,