• November 19, 2024
          Abraham Verghese: Portland Arts & Lectures 2024–25
          December 10, 2024
          The Moth Mainstage in Portland
          January 16, 2025
          Timothy Egan: Portland Arts & Lectures 2024–25
          February 13, 2025
          Masha Gessen: Portland Arts & Lectures 2024–25
  • Box Office

Readers Seminars

Engaging readers to explore challenging books and engage in lively, discussion-based seminars led by scholars, teachers, writers, poets, and artists from the Portland community.

Our readers seminars cultivate community around the shared experience of reading. By gathering together weekly to share in-depth conversations about books, authors, and various cultures of thought and experience, we become more astute and empathetic readers, of literature, as well as of human experience.

Our readers seminars are designed for adults 18 and over. Participants purchase their own books for the seminar. If you have questions about our readers seminars, contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org.

SEMINAR CANCELLATION POLICY:

For participants who need to cancel registration for a seminar before it begins, the following refund schedule applies:

If you cancel at least 10 business days or more before a seminar begins, you will receive a credit minus 15% OR a refund minus 30% of the tuition.

9 business days until 24 hours or less before a seminar begins, you will receive a credit minus 20% . No refunds are given 9 business days or less before a seminar begins.

24 hours or less before a seminar begins, no refund or credits will be given.

Credits are valid for 12 months.

If Literary Arts cancels a seminar, participants will receive a full refund.

Upcoming Seminars

January 13, 2025
Tolstoy’s Short Stories
January 14, 2025
Ursula K Le Guin: Always Coming Home
January 16, 2025
STRANGE DESCENT: SUPERNATURAL NOVELS
January 22, 2025
Huck and James: Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Percival Everett’s James
February 9, 2025
Sarah Orne Jewett: The Country of the Pointed Firs
February 13, 2025
GREEK MYTHS RETOLD

SEMINAR CANCELLATION POLICY:
If you need to cancel your registration for a seminar, the following refund schedule applies:
• 3 days or more before a class, refunds will be issued, less a $35 processing fee.
• 3 days or more before class starts, if you prefer to convert your registration to a credit for an upcoming class, you can receive a tuition credit for an upcoming class for the full amount of your tuition, good for one year.
• 48 hours or less before a class begins, no refund or tuition credit is available.If Literary Arts has to cancel a seminar, you will receive a full refund.

REFUNDS AND RECORDINGS:

Literary Arts cannot provide refunds, transfers, or makeup sessions for individual classes and seminar sessions that students miss. Literary Arts does not record Zoom classes for students who are absent.

ACCESS PROGRAM:
We want our writing classes to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and seminar registrations at a reduced rate. Most classes have at least one access spot available.

“I’ve been exposed to new literature, had fun, great conversations and knowledgeable and warm guides.”

Participant

Seminar Policies

Delve offers a unique peer-to-peer learning experience that fosters community and intellectual inquiry. Each seminar is limited to 16 participants who will complete designated reading in advance and come prepared to discuss the text in an informal, friendly atmosphere. No previous knowledge of the author or text is required.

Seminars meet once a week, and vary in length. Seminars are typically held at the Literary Arts community space in downtown Portland (925 SW Washington St.).

We encourage you to enroll early; many seminars fill up quickly.

Program Supporter:

We thank A to Z Wineworks for the generous gift of complementary wine served during our Delve seminars.
Community Partners:

We are happy to host occasional Delve seminars at our partner venues: Portland Art Museum, Another Read Through Bookstore