2019 Bookish in the ‘Burgh Images
THIS PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST CELEBRATES
‘NATIONAL SUPPORT TEEN LITERATURE’ DAY BY REFLECTING UPON ITS
INAUGURAL BOOKISH IN THE ‘BURGH
Pittsburgh’s first free festival dedicated to teen literature hosted sold-out crowds in the Cultural District
Pittsburgh, PA–The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to constantly expand the definition and state of culture in Pittsburgh by offering new and diverse art forms. This ‘National Support Teen Literature’ Day, the Trust reflects upon a successful first year of its newest venture, Bookish in the ‘Burgh. This free, two-day Festival March 23 and 24, 2019 celebrating the art of teen literature successfully brought together seven acclaimed authors and attracted 500 readers to register. Set in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District and occurring in tandem with the Pittsburgh Humanities Festival, Bookish in the ‘Burgh featured conversation, workshops, book signings and sales, and celebrated all things ‘bookish.’
“As a long-time advocate of celebrating teen stories, this festival was my dream project. I want Pittsburgh to be a hub for teen literature in the Mid-Atlantic region, with Bookish in the ‘Burgh joining the ranks of other beloved, free teen literature festivals around the country,” says Kelsey Ford, creator and director of Bookish in the ‘Burgh and Program Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “One reason that so many people of all ages love teen literature is that it celebrates diverse teen stories in really nuanced, inclusive, and respectful ways. In the first year of Bookish in the ‘Burgh, I wanted to set a precedent that this festival will celebrate the inclusivity and diversity of teen books by showcasing award-winning, acclaimed authors who share those values.”
2019 Bookish in the ‘Burgh authors included Anna-Marie McLemore (The Weight of Feathers, When the Moon Was Ours), Jay Coles (Tyler Johnson Was Here), K. Ancrum (The Wicker King, The Legend of the Golden Raven), Kheryn Callendar (Hurricane Child, This is Kind of an Epic Love Story), NYT Bestselling author Morgan Matson (Since You’ve Been Gone, The Unexpected Everything), NYT Bestselling author Rachael Lipponcott (Five Feet Apart), and Rachel Lynn Solomon (You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone, Our Year of Maybe).
Through a special media partnership with 88 Cups of Tea, an online platform and podcast for writers who look for guidance in their writing journey and connection to a community, Kelsey discusses how this Festival came to fruition, including her personal experiences as a writer of books for teens and how that contributed to this new Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presentation. Listen here. Other Bookish in the ‘Burgh sponsors, collaborators, and partners include Riverstone Books, Littsburgh, White Whale Bookstore, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Teen Services, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Young Playwrights Contest, Girls Write Pittsburgh, Dreams of Hope, and WQED.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is excited to engage with partners new and old as a part of this new Festival, and looks forward to continuing this as an annual part of Trust programming in the Cultural District next spring. Visit TrustArts.org/Bookish to keep up with future lineups, events, and more.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.
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