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
Arts Access Fund: Student Art Installation at Goat Blocks (City of Portland)
March 12-April 30, 2025 | Goat Blocks, courtyard storefront, 975 SE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
As you stroll through Goat Blocks in the Portland’s Central Eastside neighborhood, look out for a storefront student art exhibit comprised of collaborative circle paintings. Created by students at Rieke Elementary, first through fifth graders worked together in small groups to create these seven impressive, larger-scale works.
Author Event with Cebo Campbell (Third Eye Books)
Monday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. | online via Zoom | Tickets from $10
You are cordially invited to the Zoom Event w/ Author Cebo Campbell Join Third Eye Books owners Charles Hannah & Michelle Lewis online on Monday Mar 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM PST for an exciting evening with author Cebo Campbell as we discuss his latest book, Sky Full of Elephants. Get ready to dive into a world of adventure, mystery, and wonder as Cebo shares insights into his writing process and the inspiration behind his captivating story. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with the author and fellow book lovers from the comfort of your own home.
The Circle is Expanding, Still: The Gift of Climate Grief with Daniela Naomi Molnar (Oregon Humanities)
Monday, April 5 from 12:00-12:30 p.m. | Leaven Community Center, 5431 NE 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97211 | Tickets $0-25 (Sliding scale)
Climate grief is a psychological response to ecological loss driven by our unfolding climate crisis. In this workshop, you’ll hear from Daniela Naomi Molnar, an artist, poet, and pigment-maker, who will discuss climate grief as a sustained creative force in her art.
Bard Bingo (Wonderwood Springs)
Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Wonderwood Springs, 8811 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203 | FREE
Bard Bingo at Portland Artist Mike Bennett’s Wonderwood Springs is a lively bingo event hosted by a traveling bard’s musical musings. Held every Tuesday night, this event features four exciting rounds with cards priced at $5 each. It’s cash-only, offering chances to win various prizes such as original artwork, stickers, gift cards, lawn signs, and the coveted jackpot.
2025 HeART of Portland student arts showcase Opening Celebration (Portland Art Museum)
April 16, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. | Portland Art Museum Mark Building, 1119 SW Park Ave., Portland, OR
A love letter to Portlanders for supporting the Arts Tax, the HeART of Portland is an annual visual arts exhibition representing K-12 student artworks from across the city. This year’s exhibition will feature 100+ student works highlighting the diversity of arts offerings across Portland Public Schools. As part of the exhibition’s opening and closing celebrations, students will participate in dance, music, and theater performances.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Resonate: A BIPOC Writing Circle (Write Around Portland)
2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month | 4:00–5:30 p.m. | Online via Zoom
Led by a Write Around Portland facilitator of color, Resonate consists of writing, sharing, and giving strengths-based feedback to each other. No preparation or experience in writing is required! Resonate is a great way to unlock your creativity, build or maintain a writing practice, and get some writing done! REGISTER HERE.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
FOR KIDS / TEENS
Pete the Cat: A Live Rock Musical (NW Children’s Theater)
March 15 through April 13 | The Judy, 1000 SW Broadway T-100, Portland, OR 97205 | $25-$35
Pete the Cat and company rock out in this fast-paced, globe-trotting musical adventure based on the smash hit book series. Tickets to all shows at The Judy are General Admission.
BOLD Children’s Storytime (University of Portland)
Saturdays, at 10:00 a.m. | Bold Coffee and Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St. Portland, OR 97201 | FREE
Join Bold Coffee and Books every Saturday morning for children’s storytime! Whether an author is here to read their book or on of their staff members is reading a favorite, they will feature stories that spread compassion, awareness, and positivity. Children will get a coloring page or sticker to take home too!
Bookworm Baby Playgroup (Literacy Kid Lounge)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Literacy Kid Lounge, 2200 SE Oak Grove Blvd
Oak Grove, OR 97267 | $10
Connect with other fantastic families and build lasting friendships in this Literacy Baby Playgroup! There is also a lot of crawling over each other and interactive play with toys and books.
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!
IN THE NEWS
A conversation with Nikole Hannah-Jones on Black history and ‘The 1619 Project (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Author Q&A: Leslie Barnard Booth on picture books, the natural world, and a pair of Oregon Book Award nominations | (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Final PubWest Conference Focuses on Finance, Fostering Best Practices | (Publisher’s Weekly)
Shelf Awareness for Friday, February 14, 2025 | (Shelf Awareness)
RECOMMENDED READING
25 Women to Read Before You Die (Powell’s)
Staff Picks (The Bookstore at Literary Arts)
Oregon Book Award Finalists 2025 (Literary Arts Bookstore)
Everybody Reads 2025 (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!
