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
Why We SCRAP? Fundraiser (SCRAP PDX)
As we take stock of Why We SCRAP, we want to thank you for sharing your stories, helping us promote sustainable practices, and inspiring creative reuse. With your donation, you’ll become a part of our mission and make your own impact on SCRAP.
Seniors Creating Art (Multnomah County Library)
Monday, December 1, 10:30 a.m. | Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Ave., Gresham, OR 97030 | FREE
Explore the wonderful world of watercolor painting as we get our creative juices flowing! Learn about brush usage and color mixing, and leave with a finished piece of artwork. No experience necessary and all supplies provided. Sponsored by Seniors Creating Art and the Marie Lamfrom Family Foundation.
OMSI After Dark: Sparkling Soirée (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)
Wednesday, December 3, 6:00 p.m. | OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, OR 97214 | $47
As we approach the longest night of the year, OMSI wants to throw a little sparkle and glow your way. Combination holiday party, new year’s party, and solstice gathering, Sparkling Soirée is a chance to dress up and celebrate the OMSI way, with science! And of course, sparkling wine, which you can sip with your own commemorative glass that comes with entry to the event.
Megha Majumdar in Conversation With Lydia Kiesling (Powell’s Books)
Wednesday, December 3, 4:00 p.m. | Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., Portland, OR 97209 | FREE
Megha Majumdar — author of the National Book Award-longlisted A Burning — paints a kaleidoscopic portrait of two families, each operating from a place of ferocious love and undefeated hope, each discovering how far they will go to secure their children’s future as they stave off encroaching catastrophe. A Guardian and a Thief is a masterful new work from one of the most exciting voices of her generation. Majumdar will be joined in conversation by Lydia Kiesling, author of Mobility.
MACHINES NIGHTMARES (Mother Foucault’s Bookshop)
Thursday, December 4, 6:00 p.m. | Mother Foucault’s Bookshop, 715 SE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97214 | FREE
A forum on what A.I. is doing to work, and what we can do about it. Featuring Roger Peet, Lydia Kiesling, Jennifer Ruth, Emme Lund, and more.
Umbrella Parade & Tree Lighting (City of Milwaukie)
Saturday, December 6, 4:00 p.m. | South Downtown Plaza (near the Post Office), 11222 SE Main St., Milwaukie OR 97269 | FREE
Join the Milwaukie holiday tradition of decorating umbrellas and parading through downtown, ending with the lighting of the tree! More details on how the parade works are in the link above. Hot drinks and sweet treats are available for free at the historic city hall after the parade.
Comics Character Design with Breena Bard (Multnomah County Library)
Saturday, December 6, 3:00 p.m. | Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 9723 | FREE
Comics come to life through the characters on the page. Join Wildfire cartoonist Breena Bard for this workshop demonstrating the basics of designing characters for comics. Then put your skills to work to create characters for your own comic!
Holiday Cheer (Oregon Historical Society)
Sunday, December 7, 12:00 p.m. | Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Ave., Portland OR 97205 | FREE
Join as OHS kicks off the holiday season with its annual celebration of Oregon’s literary talents. Chat with local authors and make a dent in your holiday shopping by picking up the perfect, personally signed book for every reader on your list. Get into the spirit of the season while you sip on hot cocoa, visit OHS’s annual Meier & Frank Santaland display, and enjoy being a part of this festive community tradition at the Oregon Historical Society!
Movie Night for Basic Rights: Carol (Basic Rights Oregon & Lesbian Culture Club)
Sunday, December 7, 6:00 p.m. | PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97202 | FREE
Join Basic Rights Oregon and the Lesbian Culture Club for a FREE movie night, featuring an all-time favorite holiday film for so many queers! We’ll be screening the modern sapphic classic Carol (2015), starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara and directed by Portland’s own Todd Haynes. Grab your besties, your partner, or your forbidden lover, and head to Tomorrow Theater for an evening to remember. If you’re feeling festive, wear your best fur (or faux) coat and bring back the 1950s fashion of New York City.
Jeff Gianola: Reflections (Oregon Historical Society)
Saturday, December 13, 2:00 p.m. | Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205 | FREE
For more than four decades, Jeff Gianola has been a trusted presence in Oregon homes, first as an anchor at KATU for 15 years and later at KOIN for 27 years. Throughout his distinguished career, he has reported on nearly every major news event in the state, earning a reputation as one of Oregon’s most respected journalists.
Kitchmas: Holiday Ornaments (Portland Art Museum)
Wednesday, December 17, 5:30 p.m. | Portland Art Museum, 934 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR 97205 | $75
Get ready to deck the halls with glitter, glue, and some good friends! This playful, hands-on workshop led by Join Our Cult’s Hannah Bearden and Gee Staughton dives headfirst into the kooky world of mid-century holiday kitsch—Pee-wee Herman style! Using colorful felt sheets as the main canvas, choose from a merry mix of holiday ornament templates and learn decorating techniques that range from minimalist chic to marvelously maximalist.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Craft as Conjuration (Corporeal Writing)
Saturday, December 6, 12:00 p.m. | Corporeal Writing, Online via Zoom | $50-$250
What might other art forms, genres, entities inform, share, nudge, whisper, reveal, incite, animate, to/with/in us and in our writing? What can we learn about through sound, noise, reverberation, vibration, rhythm in other genres and forms, such as music and sonic elements in video games? How might a sound or sounds become the fabrics, the networks, the narrative structures of our stories? How does a sound or sounds feel in our bodies? In Craft as Conjuration: Hybrid Work and Sound, you will look at the role of sound in music and other genres/forms and explore its roles, possibilities, and play in our writing.
ArtWrite (Artist’s Rep)
First Sunday of the Month, 11:00 a.m. | Artists Rep, 1515 SW Morrison St. Portland, OR 97219 | FREE
Introducing a new monthly meet-up hosted by Artists Rep in partnership with the Dramatists Guild. Facilitated by E.M. Lewis and Sara Jean Accuardi. A little bit of writing, a little bit of sharing, a lot of connecting with other playwrights.
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
Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers (Boulevard)
Submission deadline: December 31 | Fee: $25
We are looking for a fresh and original story of fiction with a minimum of 150 pages. The awarded fiction manuscript is selected through an annual submission process, which is open to all authors.
The Moth Poetry Prize 2025 (The Moth)
Submission deadline: December 31 | Fee: $19
The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for individual unpublished poems. The prize is open to anyone over 16, and each year attracts thousands of entries from new and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide.
Virginia Woolf Award for Short Fiction (LitMag)
Submission deadline: December 31 | Fee: $20
Award winners receive a prize of $2,500, publication in LitMag, and agency review for exceptional short fiction between 3,000 and 8,000 words.
Cai Emmons Fiction Award (Red Hen Press)
Submission deadline: January 15 | Fee: $18
We are looking for a fresh and original story of fiction with a minimum of 150 pages. The awarded fiction manuscript is selected through an annual submission process, which is open to all authors. The prize winner is awarded $5,000. Name on cover sheet only, with a 25,000-word minimum (approximately 150 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font). Entries will be accepted via Submittable only.
Sign up for The Stafford Challenge (The Stafford Challenge)
Register by January 17
Join The Stafford Challenge, a transformative year-long poetry journey inspired by the daily practice of William Stafford. Beginning January 17, 2026 – Stafford’s birthday – you’ll commit to writing a poem a day alongside a global community of poets. Enjoy inspiring monthly events featuring renowned Guest Poets such as Kim Stafford, Emmett Wheatfall, Lauren Camp, Brad Aaron Modlin, CMarie Fuhrman, and more.
Participants receive biweekly emails, access to a supportive Facebook group, and the Guest Poet presentations to keep their creativity flowing. This challenge is pay-what-you-want and open to all, regardless of experience level.
Learn more and register at staffordchallenge.com.
FOR KIDS & TEENS
Pajama Storytime (Multnomah County Library)
Wednesday, December 3, 6:30 p.m. | Troutdale Library, 2451 SW Cherry Park Rd., Troutdale, OR 97060 | FREE
Put on your pajamas, grab a bedtime buddy, and join us for stories, songs, and fun. For children 6 years and younger with an adult. Attendance is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
SCRAP Sunday Night Stitchin’ (SCRAP PDX)
Sunday, December 14, 4:00 p.m. | Scrap PDX, 619 SE 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97214 | FREE
Join SCRAP for their twice monthly—usually every other Sunday evening— in their SCRAP Education Studio for Sunday Night Stitchin’, a fiber club for sewists, knitters, and crocheters! You bring your project; we’ll provide basic tools and immaculate vibes. ✨ Come and create community with other lovely fiber artists!
Hanukkah Story Time with Eric Kimmel (Green Bean Books)
Saturday, December 13, 11:00 a.m. | Green Bean Books, 1600 NE Alberta St., Portland OR, 97211 | FREE
Beloved Portland author Eric Kimmel is back to continue this special tradition!
Storytime Magic with Santa (Literacy Kid Lounge)
Saturday, December 13, multiple times | Literacy Kid Lounge, 2200 SE Oak Grove Blvd., Oak Grove OR 97267 | $25
Celebrate the season with Magical Storytime with Santa, a festive experience filled with wonder, joy, and cozy holiday traditions for your little ones. What’s Included:
- Ornament Making – A special keepsake to take home
- Storytime with Santa – Enjoy a heartwarming reading of The Night Before Christmas
- Photo Opportunity – Capture magical moments with Santa (don’t forget your camera!)
- Santa Letter Writing – Kids can write letters, and we’ll send them straight to the North Pole
- Cookie Decorating Kits, Crafts & Play – Holiday fun that’s as sweet as it is creative
Kid’s Storytime: The Old Sleigh (Powell’s Books)
Saturday, December 27, 10:30 a.m. | Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., Portland, OR 97209 | FREE
Join Powell’s every Saturday for kids’ storytime. This day’s pick is The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey.
IN THE NEWS
Portland Author Omar El Akkad Wins a National Book Award (Willamette Week)
Miller Foundation announces $500,000 in Spark Awards (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Kamala Harris Speaks in Portland as Part of ‘107 Days’ Tour (The Franklin Post)
‘A Larger Reality: Ursula K. Le Guin’ honors the work and the life of the iconic novelist (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Portland Book Festival: Stacey Abrams, Susan Orlean on the perils, pitfalls, and joys of writing (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Portland Book Festival: Reginald Dwayne Betts’ ‘Doggerel’ transforms his life into poetry (Oregon ArtsWatch)
RECOMMENDED READING
Transgender Awareness & Remembrance | (Multnomah County Library)
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month 2025 | (Multnomah County Library)
Lambda Literary Award Winners 2025 | (Multnomah County Library)
Staff Picks | (The Literary Arts Bookstore)
Literary Arts 2025 Gift Guide | (The Literary Arts Bookstore)
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!
