Each month, Literary Arts staff will round up news, events, and more happening in Portland, and beyond. Let us know in the form below the blog if you have any events or news to share.
EVENTS
Notable Women of Portland (Multnomah County Library)
Sunday, March 3rd, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. | In person at Belmont Library | FREE to attend
Historian Dr. Tracy Prince and her daughter and co-author Zadie Schaffer will present their book, Notable Women of Portland, which uncovered overlooked parts of Portland history—from 10,000 years of Native American women, pioneer women, women of the Progressive Era, WWI, WWII, post-war women, and women in arts and politics. Many women made their mark and radically changed the Oregon frontier.
Pop-Up Romance Book Store (Fire Heart Book Shop & Daylily Coffee Shop)
Sunday, March 3rd, from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. | In person at Daylily Coffee | FREE to attend
Join us for a delightful day of romance novels at the Pop-Up Romance Book Store! Located at Daylily Coffee Shop on North Fremont Street in Portland, OR, USA, this in-person event is a dream come true for book lovers. Immerse yourself in a world of love, passion, and happily-ever-afters. Browse through a wide selection of heartwarming stories, from sweet contemporary romances to steamy historical novels. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious reader, this event is perfect for indulging in your love for love stories. Don’t miss out on this enchanting experience!
Women in Publishing Panel (Willamette Writers)
Tuesday, March 5th, from 7:00–8:30 p.m. | In person at 1336 NW Flanders St. Portland, OR | FREE to attend
The Portland Chapter of Willamette Writers invites you to a special event in honor of Women’s History Month. Join them on March 5 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m.) for a panel on Women in Publishing, featuring bookseller and author Holly Lörincz, book coach and editor Charlotte Chipperfield, and literary agent CoCo Freeman. The panel will be moderated by publisher and author, Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito.
Comics Grab Bag (Independent Publishing Resource Center)
Saturday, March 9th, from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. | In person at the Independent Publishing Resource Center | Fundraiser, free to attend
A fundraiser for the IPRC! Over the years they’ve received donations of so many comic books that they don’t have the space and capacity for in their zine library, so they’ve decided to throw a little fundraiser and have a comic book sale. You can purchase comic books by the each for $1, or you can purchase a paper bag for $10 to fill with comics yourself!
Consider This with Father Greg Boyle (Oregon Humanities)
Wednesday, March 13th, from 7:00–8:30 p.m. | In person at Alberta Rose Theater (waitlist) or online (available) | FREE to attend
Join for a conversation about community, belonging, and ending violence with Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention, rehab, and reentry program based in Los Angeles. Homeboy Industries employs and trains former gang members in a range of social enterprises and provides critical services to thousands of people each year.
Black Artists of Oregon: Meet the Curator (Portland Art Museum)
Thursday, March 14th, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. | In person at the Portland Art Museum | Included with General Admission ticket
The Portland Art Museum invites visitors to come with questions every Thursday to meet a curator in the galleries to discuss works in the Black Artists of Oregon exhibition. This informal, one-on-one conversation-based offering is an opportunity to learn more about the artists, their work, and the curatorial vision that shaped the exhibition.
BACKFENCE Roulette (Backfence)
Saturday, March 16th, from 8:00–9:30 p.m. | In person at the Alberta Rose Theater | Tickets start at $22, $5 Arts for All tickets available for Oregon Trail card holders
Each show begins with a giant game show size wheel packed with juicy story prompts. One of five seasoned storytellers is randomly drawn. To determine the random prompt for their story, they spin that giant wheel! They can play or pass their prompt (once). If they pass, another teller can steal their prompt. Then the risky part… each storyteller has only 5 minutes to come up with a true 5-minute story based on their prompt! The audience votes on a winner at the end of the night – both the storyteller winner and one lucky audience member win a veritable bevy of prizes!
Radical Meditation: a practice of interbeing in times of crisis (BIPOC only) w/ Touk Keo (Corporeal Writing)
Sunday, March 17th, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Online | FREE or sliding scale
Join Corporeal Writing for a monthly meditation and conversation on the practice of sitting or lying in meditation in a time of political, environmental, and personal crisis, especially drawing upon practices and teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh and Plum Village. All experience levels, backgrounds, and ages are welcome. Please note: This month’s meditation is open to those who identify as BIPOC only.
ReadUP: Ross Gay (University of Portland)
Monday, March 18th, from 7:30–8:30 p.m. | In person at Buckley Center Auditorium, University of Portland | FREE to attend
ReadUP is University of Portland’s annual celebration of literature in which the entire local campus community—students, faculty, and staff—are invited to read “one book together.” The campaign culminates with a public lecture and discussion by the book’s author, as part of the Schoenfeldt Distinguished Visiting Writers Series. This year, they will be joined by Ross Gay for his title Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. This is an author lecture you won’t want to miss!
Special Film Screening of Maggie Tokuda-Hall at Minidoka NHS (Friends of Minidoka and National Park Service)
Tuesday, March 26th, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. | In person at Bishop & Wilde Books, 2601 NW Thurman St., Portland, OR | FREE to attend | RSVP here
Join Friends of Minidoka and National Park Service for a screening of a special short film which features Maggie Tokuda-Hall reading Love in the Library, her powerful and wistful book about her grandparents meeting and falling in love at Minidoka. After the film, Friends of Minidoka and Minidoka National Historic Site will provide updates on their work to preserve, protect, and educate about the lessons from the Minidoka incarceration. Light refreshments will be served.
Everybody Reads Book Discussion: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Broadway Books & Multnomah County Library)
Tuesday, March 26th, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. | In person at Broadway Books | FREE to attend
Join Broadway Books, in partnership with Multnomah County Library, for an enriching and stimulating discussion of the Multnomah County 2024 Everybody Reads book, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin!
BIPOC Reading Series (Literary Arts)
Wednesday, March 27th, from 7:00–8:30 p.m. | In person at Literary Arts, 925 SW Washington Street Portland, OR | FREE to attend
This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our featured readers, or sign up to share your work in our open mic. Readings will be followed by a short community discussion. This event is open to everyone, but only people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color will be invited to read.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
Wild Women Story Contest (TulipTree Publishing)
Submission deadline: March 8th, 2024
A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a single poem, a short story, or an essay “whose main characters embody the wild woman spirit.” Submit up to five pages of poetry or up to 10,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee by March 8. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Creative Writing Fellowships (National Endowment for the Arts)
Deadline to apply: March 13, 2024
The National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. This program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. In 2024 we will be accepting applications in poetry.
Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship (Democracy Center)
Deadline to apply: March 18th, 2024
The Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Center) invites applications to the second annual Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship (Yamamoto Fellowship). Beginning this year, the Yamamoto Fellowship will focus on a different artistic discipline each year. The 2024 Yamamoto Fellowship grants two $5,000 unrestricted awards to two emerging writers of color who write critically about theater, dance, and/or performance art.
2024 Fall Residencies (Parents, General) (Tin House)
Deadline to apply: March 21st, 2024
The Tin House Resident will be housed in a 900 square ft. studio apartment next to the Tin House Workshop office in Northwest Portland. Each Residency comes with a $1500 stipend, a 100$ Lyft credit, and a public reading/reception at Bishop & Wilde. Residents may also have an opportunity to meet (virtually) with editors from Tin House Books and participate in other gatherings with members of Portland’s literary community.
Artist Residency, Ecological Arts Funding, and/or Writing Retreat (Fernland Studios)
Deadline to apply: April 8, 2024
Fernland Studios is an experimental ecological arts studio offering rest, rejuvenation, and reciprocity. We provide Black, Indigenous, and all people of color artist residencies, ecological arts funding, and writing retreats at no cost and with additional funding to support their practice. These are three separate opportunities. They are hosting a virtual information session on Friday, March 22, from 10-11 am PT to discuss logistics and answer questions.
FOR KIDS / TEENS
Toddler Storytime & Play (Sunrise Books)
Thursdays, at 10:00 a.m. | In person at Sunrise Books | FREE to attend
Join Sunrise Books every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for toddler storytime! They’ll sing, dance, do a read aloud, and have a rockin’ good time. Perfect for ages 18 months–4 years. This storytime is free; however, they accept donations to keep it going.
Kids’ Story & Art Class at Awake Coffee & Art!
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. | In person at Awake Coffee & Art | $8
Bring your little ones Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for a storybook reading and art session!
They’ll have a hands-on art project after the reading. It could be watercolor painting, making and playing with play dough, or another creative project to engage the young artists’ talents! All materials included!
Kids’ Storytime (Powell’s)
Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. | Powell’s City of Books | FREE
Join us every Saturday for kids’ storytime.
IN THE NEWS
Warm Springs elder finalist for Oregon Book Award (The Madras Pioneer)
Linfield prof wins Literary Arts fellowship (News-Register)
West Linn author nominated for third Oregon Book Award (West Linn Tidings)
Literary Arts announces 2024 Oregon Book Awards finalists (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Is your favorite a finalist in Oregon Book Awards? Check out the entire list (Portland Tribune)
He Was My Role Model. My Mentor. My Supplier. (The New York Times)
Read this incredible piece written by Literary Arts board member Mitchell S. Jackson.
Kwame Alexander Reads A Poem From “This Is the Honey: An Anthology Of Contemporary Black Poets” (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
RECOMMENDED READING
A Booklover’s Guide to Portland (Travel Portland)
10 New Books From Around the World (Powell’s)
Local Resources for Writers (Multnomah County Library)
Community News Submissions
Let us know if you have any events, news to share, or opportunities for writers for the In the Community blog and we will consider adding it to the next blog post!
