Seattle Arts and Lectures

Writers in the schools (wits) - during the year ended june 30, 2022, in-school programming resumed through the organization's award-winning literary Arts education program, writers in the schools, dedicated to inspiring students and improving reading and writing in public k-12 classrooms and hospital rooms through on-site, year-long residencies with local professional writers. For the year ended june 30, 2022, wits directly served approximately 4,200 students and 190 teachers at 25 public schools in the Seattle, highline, lake Washington, snoqualmie valley, and port townsend school districts, as well as at Seattle children's.

Sal presents - a diverse program featuring timely, topical conversations with authors, artists, and thinkers promoting new books, as well as free events focused on racial equity and social justice, and events celebrating the work of our local wits writers-in-residence. For the year ended june 30, 2022, sal issued 11,421 tickets and estimate 16,951 attended in-person or virtually.

Literary Arts series - the organization's hallmark program, the literary Arts series is one of the premier literary series in the nation presenting original talks with the leading fiction and non-fiction writers of our time. During the year ended june 30, 2022, most programs were produced both in-person and virtually. A total of 6,691 tickets were issued and estimated attendance was 10,036, as many couples or families purchased one ticket to watch virtually from home.

Community curated series - a new three-part series designed to showcase local bipoc writers and to engage new and existing audiences by bringing that year's curator's vision for a series to life. Last year's creator was bestselling author ijeoma oluo and we partnered with langston as the host for this series. For the year ended june 30, 2022, sal issued 2,347 tickets and estimate 4,776 people attended in-person or virtually.poetry series - this series ensures that this essential literary form thrives on all levels in this community by presenting the best and most influential contemporary poets for readings and conversations. In the year ended june 30, 2022, the organization issued 1,085 tickets and an estimated 1,627 watched virtually.women you need to know (wynk) - a three-part series featuring and celebrating amazing women authors, artists and thinkers. For the year ended june 30, 2022, sal issued 1,081 tickets and estimate 1,621 people attended in-person or virtually.journalism series - a three-part series which shines a spotlight on journalism and journalists and the importance of the free press. The series was created in partnership with national book award-winning writer and correspondent timothy egan and renowned journalist sam howe verhovek. During the year ended june 30, 2022, sal issued 1,356 tickets and estimate 2,034 people attended in-person or virtually.youth poet laureate (ypl) - the program also hosted the Seattle youth poet laureate program in collaboration with urban word from nyc, mentoring a cohort of 11 writers and supporting seattles youth poet laureate in community-wide leadership, speaking opportunities, and the publication of their first book. The ypl program aims to identify youth writers and leaders who are committed to poetry, performance, civic and community engagement, education, and equity across the puget sound region. At community events throughout the year, youth poet laureates share their powerful voices, leadership, and love of community, and also publish a collection of their poems in collaboration with poetry northwest.