Center for Literary Arts

Thank you for supporting Studio Channel Islands as we establish a new program to promote the literary arts in our community.

If you would like to register your interest in attending our events or would simply like to find out more information about what we are planning, please join our mailing list here.

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Your support will enable us to deliver:

Monthly Poetry in the Gallery Workshops

Monthly Writers in the Gallery Readings

Writers Education Panel Discussion & Workshops

Children’s Literacy & Writing Education Program

Ventura County Poetry Festival 2025

The Poetry in the Gallery series provides a dynamic social gathering for the poetry-loving community as well as open mic and featured reader opportunities. This series brings a superb range of poets and spoken word artists to perform within a supportive and professional environment. Poetry in the Gallery is open to both readers and writers of poetry of all skill levels and includes a wide range of styles and genres. Special Poetry in the Gallery events take place in the following months: a poetry slam in September; as part of the Emergence program, a competition and showcase in February; the annual Ventura County Poetry Festival in March.

Our Writers in the Gallery series provides free workshops—taking inspiration from the traditional literary salons—in the unique setting of the gallery and features guest speakers and workshop leaders drawn from academia and the professional writing community presenting on different genres and topics related to writing. These fun and multi-faceted workshops are generative and suitable for novice writers, advanced and mid-career writers, and members of the general reading public seeking new experiences and a chance to explore their own creativity.

The Writers Education panel discussions and workshops are part of a year-round program of inspiring talks about the craft of writing and a deep dive into literary criticism and appreciation. The adult education program is suitable for writers of all abilities and experience levels and will include both stand-alone workshops and longer-running series, taking inspiration from MFA-style Creative Writing courses. The education program will be led by professional writers and will be carefully curated to build a deeper and richer understanding of a wide range of formats and styles—including both creative and non-creative writing in prose and poetry—as well as gaining practical skills for pursuing writing professionally.

The Children’s educational program will support young people in our community to develop their creative voice and expressive competency. The program will be designed to work with both young people who are struggling with literacy as well as gifted and talented students who want to further their creative potential.

The Center for the Literary Arts will also establish our Narratives Across Difference program, focusing upon multicultural literary programming. This will showcase how literature can both reflect and reshape social realities and individual wellbeing, serving as a platform for resilience, renewal, and social interaction. The program will uplift hard-to-hear voices and provide alternative world views to build bridges within our community and support healing. This no-cost program will provide a safe place for young people to explore complex emotions and access mental health support services (provided by our partners at the County Behavioral Health Center).

The Narratives Across Difference program is supported by VibeWell Ventura County, a collaborative initiative between County of Ventura Arts and Culture and Ventura County Behavioral Health. Funding is provided through Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention funds.