Cultured Books Literacy Foundation is a St. Petersburg-based literary arts nonprofit founded in 2018 and dedicated to bringing books to life through festivals, author experiences, exhibitions, workshops, and cultural programming. The organization is an established arts and culture nonprofit with a clear focus on literary and visual arts access for youth, families, and communities throughout Pinellas County.
Since 2022, the foundation has produced St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest, an annual literary arts festival that has grown from 382 attendees in its inaugural year to more than 500 visitors, drawing families and literary enthusiasts from across Florida. Featured guests have included Newbery Medal winner Jerry Craft, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award winner Derrick Barnes, Winsome Bingham, and Sharee Miller. Programming has received support from Creative Pinellas, Florida Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Humanities Center, and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.
The organization maintains active partnerships with the Woodson Museum of Florida, The Florida Orchestra, the Tampa Bay Al Downing Jazz Association, Pinellas County libraries, and local schools and artists. Cultured Books Literacy Foundation is committed to positioning St. Petersburg as a national destination for innovative, family-centered literary arts experiences.
