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Twelve Literary Arts is Hiring!Twelve is looking for a grant writer, part-time support instructors for our after school programs, and drivers to transport our youth. For more information visit "Job Openings" in our "About" section. -
Twelve Literary Arts co-sponsors poetry competition to battle infant mortality in Northeast Ohio"The Battle for Our Babies" spoken word competition invites poets across Northeast Ohio to write and perform poems to combat Cleveland's rising infant mortality rate. More than $2,000 in cash prizes available for youth and adult poets. For more information, visit our "Events" page. -
The People Poetry Slam presents the Final Qualifying Round for poets to represent Cleveland at national competitionThis final competition will decide who will be in the April 26th Grand Slam. The People Poetry Slam will send a four-person team to Chicago this summer. For more information, visit our "Events" section. -
Meet the youth who will represent Ohio at the National Brave New Voices Competition in Houston this summer!Twelve youth competed at the One Mic Open youth poetry slam Final State in February. Five of them will represent Ohio at the national level. For more information visit "One Mic Open" in our "Programming" section.
OUR MISSION
Twelve Literary Arts brings performance poetry to public spaces, while supporting poets and writers of all ages with youth programming, adult professional development, and brave spaces to dream, write, and teach into reality a world of social justice and equity.
Mary Barrett reads "Neo Negroes"
Raja Belle Freeman reads "Hounds"
RECENT NEWS & PRESS
Twelve Literary Arts Executive Artistic Director receives Youth Voice Award
Twelve Literary Arts brings poetry to the people on RTA
Twelve Literary Arts was honored at the 9th Annual MyCom Youth Voice Awards, an event that recognizes youth, caring adults, organizations, business and civic leaders who support and empower the youth voice in Cleveland through the MyCom network.This year’s Business Award honored Twelve Literary Arts for our engagement with Cleveland youth and positive impact on youth development.
As part of Cleveland Book Week, Twelve Literary Arts partnered with RTA, LAND Studios, and The Cleveland Foundation to host pop-up readings on RTA Red Line platforms. Twelve poets and writers performed their own work, along with the work of past and present winners of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. The 81-year-old awards program, administered by the Cleveland Foundation, recognizes books that confront racism and explore topics surrounding diversity, equity and social justice. Check out the Scene Magazine article and video here.
Twelve Literary Arts on the cover of Scene Magazine
Twelve Literary Arts partners with Karamu House, Brews & Prose and Anisfield-Wolf
The cover of the November 1, 2017 issue of Scene Magazine probably looked familiar to many who have visited Twelve Literary Arts. That's because it was shot inside Twelve Literary Arts' writing studio. Twelve was a focal point of the article because of its efforts in providing mentorship, performance, and rehearsal space to rappers across NE Ohio. To read the article, click here.
In celebration of The Anisfield-Wolf Awards and Cleveland Book Week, Twelve Literary Arts partnered with Karamu House, Brews & Prose, and the A-W in hosting the event: Clapback: The Poetry of Tyehimba Jess Unplugged. Poets Mary Barrett (pictured above), Daniel Gray-Kontar, and Damien McClendon opened for Jess, who is the 2017 Pulitzer and A-W Award winner. Click here to see the program in its entirety.
Twelve Literary and Performative Arts programming is brought to you in part by the generous support of the following funders and sponsors:
