City of Asylum Opening Literary Center in Pittsburgh
City of Asylum Opening Literary Center in Pittsburgh
City of Asylum, a Pittsburgh, Pa., nonprofit that aims to create a community of writers and readers, offers a range of literary programs and provides sanctuary to exiled or politically oppressed writers, plans to open the Alphabet City Literary Center next spring.
“In addition to presenting our own programs, which have an international focus, we plan for Alphabet City to be a hub for Pittsburgh authors, musicians and community groups,” Henry Reese, co-founder and president of City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, said. “With a capacity of 150 and a living-room-feel, it will be an intimate space that enhances our informal, salon-style events, and it will prove a great complement to the nearby New Hazlett theater. Alphabet City’s state-of-the-art recording and broadcast technology will enable us to bring more of the world to Pittsburgh, and more of Pittsburgh to the world.”
Richard Wiley, author of Soldiers in Hiding with an introduction by Wole Soyinka, created the program in this country when Mr. Soyinka told him about his hope for an American City of Asylum at dinner one night. To read the entire story, go to Sampsonia Way.
Photo: (L-R) Xiang Ling, Huang Xiang, Wole Soyinka, Richard Wiley, Carol Hareter.