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
A Larger Reality: Ursula K. LeGuin (Oregon Contemporary Art)
October 31–February 8 | Oregon Contemporary, 8371 N. Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97217
A Larger Reality: Ursula K. Le Guin offers a biographical and poetical portrait of one of Oregon’s best known artists. Examining important moments and themes in Le Guin’s life and oeuvre, the exhibition encompasses a rich variety of media, immersing guests in the ideas, playfulness and hope that course through Ursula K. Le Guin’s art. The exhibition is curated by Theo Downes-Le Guin, the author’s son, with contributions from many others who knew the author or her work.
Diaries, Notes, Sketches: A Film Screening & Journaling Event for the New Year (Portland Diary Summit)
Thursday, January 1, 6:00–9:00 p.m. | Stelo Arts, 412 NW 8th Avenue, Portland, OR | $10-25
The Portland Diary Summit returns with a special New Year’s Day film and journaling event. Partnering with Experimental Exposure, a film programming group presenting experimental films in their original analog format, and Stelo Arts, a community-oriented art space on Portland’s North Park Blocks, Diaries, Notes, Sketches offers Portlanders a rare opportunity to see 16mm and super8 diaristic films by Vivienne Dick, Holly Fisher, Isa Hesse-Rabinovich, and Edward Owens. During this relaxed screening event, we will savor these films together, taking breaks after each film to journal with prompts inspired by the films. Join us at Stelo to take a moment to reflect on and learn from 2025, and dream and fortify yourself for 2026. Bring your notebooks and we’ll provide the snacks and tea. Curated by Julie Perini and Cadie Godula.
Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Laura Esther Sciortino (Ghost Town Poetry)
Thursday, January 8, 7:00 p.m. | Art At The Cave, 108 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98660 | $5 suggested donation
Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige
Everybody Reads: Black History 101 Mobile Museum (Multonomah County Library)
Saturday, January 10, 12:00–5:00 p.m. | Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97233 | FREE
The Black History 101 Mobile Museum will display items from a collection of over 15,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the painful transatlantic slave trade to the hip-hop era. The Museum will be open from 12-5, with a presentation from 4-5 pm. Dr. el-Hakim has brought the nation’s premier traveling exhibition of Black history on a remarkable journey across 43 states, sharing “ourstory” with over 1,000 institutions.
The Librarians (PAM CUT)
Sunday, January 11, 3:30 p.m. | PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202 | $15
Fresh off the film festival circuit, we’re thrilled to present The Librarians, a gripping, deeply moving documentary about librarians thrust into the heart of America’s cultural reckoning. This film pulls back the curtain on a surge of book bans targeting essential stories about race, gender, and queerness—and shows how libraries have become unlikely battlegrounds for civil rights. Dubbed “the civil-rights fight of our time” (The Guardian) and praised for tracing this chilling wave with clear-eyed urgency, The Librarians introduces viewers to the courageous guardians of free thought.
Milwaukie Poetry Series: Ellen Waterston (Oregon Humanities)
Wednesday, January 14, 6:00 p.m. | Ledding Library of Milwaukie, 10660 SE 21st Ave., Milwaukie OR 97222 | FREE
Ellen Waterston, Oregon’s Poet Laureate, will read from her own work. Her reading is sponsored by the Milwaukie Poetry Series will be livestreamed on the Ledding Library YouTube channel and available for viewing after the reading.
Everybody Reads: Black History 101 Mobile Museum (Multonomah County Library)
Friday, January 16, 12:00–5:00 p.m. | Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97233 | FREE
The Black History 101 Mobile Museum will display items from a collection of over 15,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the painful transatlantic slave trade to the hip-hop era. The Museum will be open from 12-5, with a presentation from 4-5 pm. Dr. el-Hakim has brought the nation’s premier traveling exhibition of Black history on a remarkable journey across 43 states, sharing “ourstory” with over 1,000 institutions.
Everybody Reads: Dream Big, a Vision Board Workshop (Multonomah County Library)
Sunday, January 18, 2:00–3:30 p.m. | Central Library, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205 | FREE
Shalonda Menefee’s workshop empowers girls to manifest their dreams, goals, and desires. She will guide attendees on the creation of personalized vision boards. The session includes a guided meditation to connect with their deepest aspirations. After, girls will work on creating a vision board that reflects their dreams. Participants will leave with a visual tool for inspiration and motivation towards goals. This class has limited space, and registration is required. Registration opens on Sunday, December 28.
Thin Ice (The Moth)
Tuesday, January 20, 8:30 p.m. | Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214 | $20
The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night’s theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…THIN ICE: Prepare a five-minute story about big risks, sneaky sidesteps, and treading lightly. The time you found yourself in territory so treacherous that one wrong move might crack the whole surface. Flirting with catastrophe, the texts you shouldn’t have sent, the secret you let slip, the gamble that cost you everything. Did you narrowly miss disaster, or did you plunge right through?
Everybody Reads: Handwriting the Constitution (Multonomah County Library)
Wednesday, January 21, 3:00–5:00 p.m. | Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Avenue, Gresham, OR 97030 | FREE
Celebrate National Handwriting Day with Handwriting Success! Come together to quietly copy the U. S. Constitution by hand. It is an opportunity for reflection on the meaning and content of this foundational document of self-governance, using tools that are available to all of us: pen and paper. Free copies of the U. S. Constitution will be available for all participants. Bring a writing tool and paper (some paper and pens will be on hand). A free “Handwriting Tips” informational sheet will also be available. These events are a partnership between Handwriting the Constitution and Handwriting Success.
Everybody Reads: Black Environmentalism in Portland (Multonomah County Library)
Saturday, January 24, 3:00–4:30 p.m. | North Portland Library, 512 N Killingsworth Street
Portland, OR 97217 | FREE
Join Urban Forestry to hear stories of Black community members and environmental projects in the Portland area, especially the Albina neighborhood. Following that, learn about current groups working to increase the Black community’s connection to nature within the city. Hosted by Portland Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division.
Everybody Reads: The Sounds of Afrofuturism (Multonomah County Library)
Sunday, January 25, 4:00-5:30 p.m. | Albina Library, 205 NE Russell Street, Portland, OR 97212 | FREE
Check out DJs Omari Jazz, Bryson Mills and Auvie Sinclair, who will take you on a journey to the Black future in electronic music.
Everybody Reads: African Storytelling with Habiba (Multonomah County Library)
Saturday, January 31, 1:00–1:45 p.m. | Midland Library, 805 SE 122nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97233 | FREE
In her memoir Lovely One, Justice Jackson describes how meaningful her trip to Africa was in honoring her roots and ancestry. Join Habiba, a native of Ghana, in learning stories about African history. Habiba offers an interactive, multicultural performance with authentic West African costume, spiced with singing and movement.
Everybody Reads: A Lovely Discussion (Multonomah County Library)
Saturday, January 31, 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Hillsdale Library, 1525 SW Sunset Boulevard
Portland, OR 97239 | FREE
Let’s talk about Lovely One by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, this year’s Everybody Reads book. Everybody Reads is a community-wide project that promotes shared reading and discussion around a single book. This discussion will be moderated by library staff, but informed by you.
Consider This: The Stories We Tell About Our Nations with Colum McCann (Oregon Humanities)
Tuesday, February 3, 7:00 p.m. | Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., Portland OR 97211 | $15-30
Join Oregon Humanities on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. for a conversation with Colum McCann, the author of thirteen books and cofounder of Narrative 4. In conversation with Adam Davis and a Narrative 4 Fellow, McCann will explore the stories we tell about our nations.
BOOKLOVER’S BURLESQUE: Erotica Edition (Lacy Productions)
Friday, February 6, 7:00 p.m. | Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., Portland OR 97211 | $30-45
A Booklover’s Burlesque special edition at The Alberta Rose Theatre, just in time for the sexiest season of the year- with all new readings and performances certain to bring about feelings in ALL the right places! Booklover’s Burlesque is the world’s sexiest literary salon which matches titillating, inspiring, and empowering book readings with burlesque, boylesque, and draglesque performances all in one show!
The Lathe of Heaven w/ Oregon Contemporary (PAM CUT)
Sunday, February 8, 6:30 p.m. | PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202 | $15
As A Larger Reality: Ursula K. Le Guin comes to a close at Oregon Contemporary, join us for a film that honors the imagination, empathy, and wonder at the heart of Le Guin’s work. Journey into The Lathe of Heaven, a visionary adaptation of Le Guin’s novel where dreams reshape reality and every wish carries its shadow. This special screening invites audiences to reflect on the power of creation, and the delicate balance between dreaming and doing.
Reading The Wall by Marlen Haushofer led by Tricia Snell (Soapstone: Celebrating Women Writers)
Saturdays, February 21–March 28, 10:00–12:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom | $75
What exactly is a feminist ethics of care? In this study group, you’ll attempt to answer that question among many others, while simply enjoying the rich, broadly evocative, strange beauty of this slim but powerful novel. Scholarships are available. To register send an email to soapstonewriting@gmail.com.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Freewrite Writing Circles (Write Around Portland)
Tuesday, January 6, 6:00–7:30 p.m. | FREE
Tap into your intentions for 2026 with a writing group to keep you motivated. Reflect on your plans to bring about change and explore your potential with writing prompts designed to keep you excited for your journey ahead! Learn more here.
Corporeal Writing Oracles Salon with Janice Lee (Corporeal Writing)
Sunday, January 12, 4:00–6:00 p.m. | $20
Celebrate the Corporeal Writing Oracles Deck! Each month in 2026, a different facilitator will host a two-hour Oracles Salon, diving deep into one randomly drawn card from the deck. Each salon will include a mix of group discussion about the oracle at hand (what does it bring up for each of us? what resonances or resistances do we feel?), an exploration of the card’s entry in the Oracles guidebook, and opportunities to write into different portals together, and then to share work.
Discovering Characters with Jeanne Thornton (Tin House)
Saturday, January 17, 9:00–12:00 p.m. | $75
Rich and resonant characters are why we read fiction. As writers, they’re also one of our best tools for exploring and opening up our works in progress. In this craft intensive, you’ll examine how authors have achieved some of literature’s greatest characters, and then, in a series of practical exercises, you’ll discover and develop rounded characters that connect to our own deep experiences.
Shaping a Narrative Around Questions w/ Lilly Dancyger (Corporeal Writing)
Saturday, January 24, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | $150
In this session, you’ll talk about how to shape a personal essay—or even a book-length memoir—around how you think and feel about an experience, as opposed to the chronological order of events. You’ll focus on the internal arc (perspective, emotion, how your relationship to a formative experience changes over time), discussing examples and writing together.
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
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
Children’s Storytime (Bold Coffee & Books)
Saturdays from 11:00–11:30 a.m. | Bold Coffee & Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97205 | FREE
Whether an author is here to read their book or our staff is reading a favorite, we’ll feature stories that spread compassion, awareness, and positivity. Children will get a coloring page or sticker to take home too!
Everybody Reads: Black Family Storytime (Multnomah County Library)
Saturday, January 10, 11:15 a.m. | Troutdale Library, 2451 SW Cherry Park Road, Troutdale, OR 97060 | FREE
Join Mecca as she brings the inspiring story of Justice Jackson to the younger crowd through picture books and other great storytime activities. All are welcome to this joyful celebration of Black excellence and resilience. Best for children from birth to age 6 (with their favorite adult). Black Storytime builds language and literacy skills your child needs to be ready for kindergarten. Attendance is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.
Kid’s Storytime: If We Were Dogs (Powell’s Books)
Saturday, January 10, 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. On this day they will be reading If We Were Dogs by Sophie Blackall.
Book Babies (Multnomah County Library)
Monday, January 12, 10:30 a.m. | Northwest Library, 2030 NW Pettygrove Street, Portland, OR 97209 | FREE
Babies from birth to 12 months (with a favorite adult) enjoy songs, action rhymes, and playtime, with bonus socialization for babies and the adults. Attendance is limited and available on a first come, first-served basis.
Everybody Reads: I Have a Dream Paint Workshop (Multonomah County Library)
Tuesday, January 13, 5:30 p.m. | Gresham Library, 385 NW Miller Avenue, Gresham, OR 97030 | FREE
Justice Jackson’s memoir describes how her achievement was made possible by Black people who paved the way with their work and their lives. Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through creativity and reflection! Write a poem about your dreams for the future in this trauma-informed, wellness-based workshop with The Lamb Art Studio. Using acrylic paints on canvas, create artwork to express your vision. Learn key facts about Dr. King’s life and impact. This course has limited space and is intended for an audience of 8 years and older. Registration opens on December 23.
Let’s Make a Zine! with Outlet PDX (Multnomah County Library)
Tuesday, January 13, 5:00–7:00 p.m. | Holgate Library, 1755 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97205 | FREE
Dive into all things zine with Outlet PDX! In this workshop, you’ll explore the history and different types of zines. We’ll also talk about where to find and share them along with different zine formats. You’ll also spend some time actually DEFINING what a zine is for those who are new to this amazing medium! You’ll give tons of prompts, tips, and inspiration so you can take ideas and turn them into a tangible lovely THING. Make a zine with us! This program is intended for teen participants – registration is required due to limited space, and opens on December 23.
Read to the Dogs (Multnomah County Library)
Friday, January 16, 4:30 p.m. | Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Avenue, Portland, OR 97206| FREE
Improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a therapy dog. The dogs and handlers are from Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Dove Lewis Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams, Paws for Love, and Pet Partners® for kids and teens. Call 503.988.5123 to register.
Youth Advisory Board and Book Club is Back! (Greenbean Books)
Sunday, January 18, 10:00 a.m. | Greenbean Books, 1600 NE Alberta Street
Portland, Oregon 97211 | FREE
Greenbean Book’s book club brings kids together to discuss advanced reader copies of books,
write reviews, and meet authors! If your middle-grade child is interested in joining, please contact Greenbooks! Learn more on the Youth Advisory Board webpage.
Kid’s Storytime: There’s No Place Like Gnome’s (Powell’s Books)
Saturday, January 31, 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. On this day, they will be reading There’s No Place Like Gnome’s by Scott Magoon.
IN THE NEWS
2025 NBCC Awards Longlist: Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
Seeking refuge during rainy season? Check out this culinary destination inside a bookstore (The Oregonian)
RECOMMENDED READING
The Best Books by Oregon Authors in 2025 | (City Cast Portland)
Our Favorite Books of 2025 | (Powell’s Books)
A Heated Rivalry is only the beginning… | (Multnomah County Library)
Get inspired by community activist recommendations from Multcolib | (Multnomah County Library)
The Best Audiobooks of 2025 for Adults | (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!
