Arts Coast Magazine – Literary

By Troy Bernardo. The 2023 Emerging Artist Grant gave me a feeling of professionality and legitimacy – like I was actually moving toward being a successful writer and not just doing the work. What I didn’t expect was that I would also be making art for the Gallery at Creative Pinellas. … Read More

By Sara Ries Dziekonski. These are wonderful poems from Keep St Pete Lit writing class participants from the Gulfport Senior Center. Their poems explore aging, loss, family history, and so much more. These women inspire me and I hope you enjoy these poems as much as I do!… Read More

By Amanda Hagood. St. Pete Poet Laureate Gloria Muñoz hopes the partnerships she’s building through the City of Writers Festival will last long after National Poetry Month has come and gone. She would like to see St. Pete become a city that celebrates not just the visual arts, but its rich literary culture as well…. Read More

By James E. Hartzell. The Friends of Jack Kerouac present our next fundraiser, the “Poetic Portals: Art and Poetry Exhibit” on Saturday, April 8 in honor of National Poetry Month. This showcase features 25 pairs of artists and poets from St. Pete and Tampa creating visual art in response to poems…. Read More

By Robbyn Hopewell. Eckerd College welcomes three renowned, award-winning poets to St. Petersburg to celebrate National Poetry Month with readings on the College campus and at the Salvador Dalí Museum. Pádraig Ó Tuama, Victoria Chang and Rooja Mohassessy will share… Read More

By Jake-ann Jones. Three local literacy champions partnered to bring children and books together during Black Children’s Book Week at St. Petersburg’s James Weldon Johnson Community Library. Antonio Brown of Barbershop Book Club, Lorielle Hollaway of Cultured Books Literacy Foundation and Always Truth Incorporated’s founder Tameka Harris joined forces for … Read More

By Jake-ann Jones. The final episode of “afroQuantum Experiences: ArtMaker Talks” streams live on March 21 to discuss making art and culture in today’s economy. “These women have all made a profound impact on the arts and entertainment environment in a very challenging economic and cultural landscape for Black and Brown communities.”… Read More

By Sara Ries Dziekonski. These elementary-age scholars are discovering the safe space and possibility of the blank page and the power of the pen as they build something beautiful and important out of words. They show up week after week to tackle big emotions and take risks, and to nudge us to laugh a little more… Read More

By Letisia Cruz. Many of the poems in “Migrations & Other Exiles” began as a way of revisiting and acknowledging the violence of my youth without fear or judgment. They explore minority women’s issues, immigration and exile, my father’s murder, my mother’s experience with domestic violence, and the relationships of my youth…. Read More

The LGBTQ Resource Center of the Gulfport Library welcomes readers to its 6th annual ReadOut Literary Festival this weekend, a free event at the Gulfport Public Library and livestreamed on Zoom. More than 80 authors and a worldwide audience will celebrate the rich diversity of LGBTQ literature. … Read More

By Jennifer Ring. What do Harvard Medical School and the Palm Harbor Library have in common? A short story dispenser made in France. You push the button and a story comes out of the machine like a grocery store receipt coming out of a cash register…. Read More

By Harriet Monzon-Aguirre. The Palm Harbor library is more than just a library, it’s an art-centric center, actively promoting and supporting visual and performing arts and giving people of all ages the opportunity to embrace and be involved in the arts…. Read More

By Margo Hammond. Turning 30, the Times Festival of Reading slimmed down this year. There were fewer authors. The venue was smaller. And it was no longer free. But two essential ingredients stayed the same – inspiring authors and enthusiastic readers…. Read More

By Margo Hammond. The first annual St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest — a celebration of all things literacy — was hosted by Cultured Books Literacy Foundation in partnership with the Barbershop Book Club and St. Petersburg College. Aimed at kids and their parents, it was the brainchild of Lorielle Hollaway, dedicated to promoting books and literacy in the South St. Pete community…. Read More

By Margo Hammond. Here are discussions from the St Pete Reads! Lit Fest – with creative tips from parents on how to help kids learn to love reading – a crucial skill that will help them choose their own path… Read More