CityLit Project marks 10th anniversary with gala event at MICA Brown Center

In the wake of Hurricane Isabel, nearly 1.2 million Marylanders lost their power, and events like the 2003 Baltimore Book Festival had to be called off. But somewhere in the darkness, a light went on for writer Gregg Wilhelm, and the following spring, the first CityLit Festival was held at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Ten years later, the CityLit Project has grown into a vibrant organization, connecting established authors and fledgling writers with Baltimore’s educational establishment and the ever-growing literary arts scene.

This evening, CityLit will celebrate a decade of service to the community with a gala event at MICA’s Brown Center. The event runs from 5:30 – 9:00pm and will be emceed by WYPR’s Aaron Henkin. Along with book signings by the evening’s featured readers, there will be music by alt-country band The Wayfarers. Reception fare will be provided by Kevin Brown and NANCY’s/SNAC.

CityLit Project founder Gregg Wilhelm (Bill Hughes)
CityLit Project founder Gregg Wilhelm. (Bill Hughes)

Since its founding, CityLit has presented programs involving more than 1,500 established authors and emerging voices, including Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Award and National Book Award winners; and poets laureate. CityLit programs include public events, in-school and after-school opportunities for youth, workshops and professional development sessions for writers, and memoir writing classes for senior citizens. These programs have served nearly 50,000 people to date.

In addition to the annual CityLit Festival, CityLit Press – the literary imprint of CityLit Project – commenced in 2010 and has published works by more than 60 writers.

Gregg Wilhelm told the Baltimore Post-Examiner the idea for CityLit actually had its genesis in The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

“I’ve always been a writer of sorts, not always practicing, but from 1992 I had been in the book publishing business and was looking for a way to have a greater impact in the community. I saw a need for programming for the public, serious workshops for writers, and ways to inspire youth to read and write creatively. I discovered the Loft in 2002, and then everything coalesced in the wake of the BBF wash-out in Fall 2003. CityLit incorporated as a nonprofit in 2004. So it was decidedly a more “professional” transition from book publisher to arts administrator, with the literary arts being the focus. The first CityLit Festival was at the Pratt Library and featured Pulitzer Prize winner Edward P. Jones.”

Poets Amanda McCormick and Tracy Diamond at the 2014 CityLit Festival. (Bill Hughes)
Poet/publishers Amanda McCormick and Tracy Dimond of InkPress Baltimore at the 2014 CityLit Festival. (Bill Hughes)

Asked his favorite memory, Wilhelm said, “The way Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz fired up the crowd at 2009 CityLit Festival was special; that and the fact that he attracted a diverse audience with a LOT of young people.

Wilhelm also recalled the impact CityLit had on a young writer named Caroline Orth.

“Caroline took two rounds of CityLit Teens with me. When she first introduced herself to the group, she said ‘I came to CityLit Teens because I didn’t know there were other weird kids like me who like to write.’ On the strength of some of her writing done in CityLit Teens, she got into the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson. She graduated in Spring 2014, and this fall will attend UNC-Wilmington which has a stellar undergrad creative writing program (home of Lookout Books and Ecotone journal). That sort of story makes the work all the more worthwhile!”

Ten years of providing a proven, indispensable service to the community is also a worthwhile mark. What does the future hold for the CityLit Project?

“We are publishing a collection of short stories by Jason Tinney titled “Ripple Meets the Deep,” and a poetry collection, edited by Gerry LaFemina and myself, of poems inspired by the Clash’s London Calling album titled “Clash by Night,” and of course we will be present at the all-new Baltimore Book Festival this fall.” Wilhelm added, “As long as the public is served by – and wants – the annual CityLit Festival, we’ll keep them coming.”

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CityLit Project celebrates 10 years of nurturing the Literary Arts with a two-tier Literary Party at MICA’s Brown Center on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. The event will begin with a reception for Benefactors and VIPs at 5:30 pm and general admission arrivals at 6:30 pm. Details about the event, including a list of the program readers, may be found at the CityLit Project website. Tickets range from $40 for general admission to $75 for VIP and $150 for Benefactors. Please make ticket purchases via CityLit’s secure donation page at CityLit Project.