Twelve Literary Arts
An ecosystem for poets and writers of color across generations
meeting at the intersection of identity and social justice
Who We Are
TWELVE'S Mission
Twelve Literary Arts currently operates five core programs that inspire, promote, and support youth and adult writers as they develop their literary crafts and form relationships within and across age groups. TLA emphasizes the importance of inter-generational interaction and learning.
We bring 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.
Our Programs
We offer a broad range of opportunities for both novice and experienced writers, cultivating a space that promotes personal and creative growth, supported by a range of fellow literary and performance artists.
Interact With Each Card To Learn More
Room 201 Workshops
One Mic Open Youth Fellowship
Thanks to the generous support of The Cleveland Foundation, Twelve Literary Arts is able to provide 4 - 8 week-long residencies for all qualifying public, private, and charter schools.
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Baldwin House
Urban Writing Residency
Baldwin House
The 7 - 10 writers accepted into each Baldwin House cohort meet once per week with their fellow writers-in-residence. At the end of the residency period each writer will produce a work of publishable quality for submission to graduate creative writing programs, literary journals, magazines, anthologies, and publishers.
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The Barbara Smith Writer-in-Residence
The Barbara Smith Residency
The Barbara Smith Writer-in-Residence program provides a safe creative space for established poets and writers of prominence and emerging writers of promise to bring a current project to completion.
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Youth Fellowship Program
One Mic Open Youth Fellowship
The One Mic Open After School Youth Poetry Fellowship is the flagship youth education program of Twelve Literary Arts’. The Fellowship accepts 25 youth from across Northeast Ohio for a 7-month experience that is designed to develop youth as poets, scholars, teachers, and community leaders. The Fellowship is open to youth between the ages of 14-19.
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The Lab
One Mic Open
Poetry Series
One Mic Open
One Mic Open is a program of Twelve Literary Arts that hosts a series of youth poetry slam workshops, open mic events for Northeast Ohio youth between the ages of 13-19. One Mic Open is the sponsor-organization officially recognized by the Brave New Voices National Network.
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Reviews of TWELVE
An impeccable space, packed with a ton of comfort, remarkable vibrations, and stunning people who create powerful works. It's most definitely a jewel.
- Dominque Howsepatron 
I love the energy at Twelve. Being surrounded by so many talented people is inspiring and confirms that Cleveland is filled to the brim with amazing artists.
- Ebony Friarpatron 
I can not say enough about the work being done to transform lives and communities through Twelve Literary Arts!
I encourage people to Partner with Twelve, it's an investment that will yield a generational return!
- Celena Powellpatron 
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Get In Touch With Twelve
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Currently based in historic Glenville on Cleveland’s east side, Twelve Literary Arts has an 8-person Board of Directors, which formed in May 2016. The organization’s original name was Twelve Literary and Performative Arts Incubator, but in June 2017 the organization shortened its name to Twelve Literary Arts.