Twelve Literary Arts 

An ecosystem for poets and writers of color 

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. 

Twelve Literary Arts partners with Mahall's and Bravo Artist to host poet and writer Hanif Abdurraqib

Join Twelve Literary Arts on Monday, December 2  as we co-host Hanif Abdurraquib, who will  read selections from his New York Times best-selling collection of essays "Go Ahead in the Rain" . Hanif will also read poems from his new collection. All proceeds for this event benefit Twelve Literary Arts' new home, which opens on the same day. For more detailed information about this and other TLA events, visit our Events page. 

Twelve Literary Arts appears on WKYC Newschannel 3's program "We the People" to discuss the long-awaited move into our new home in Glenville

Twelve Literary Arts Announces 2019-20 Glenville Artists-in-Residence 

Mary Barrett

Dr. Naazneen Diwan

Twelve Literary Arts is proud to announce the 2019-20 Glenville Artists-in-Residence. The artists, chosen by the Board of Directors of Twelve Literary Arts, have been provided with one-bedroom apartments at discounted rental rates. In return, the artists and activists will create literary artworks for the Glenville neighborhood and beyond. This year's artists-in-residence include:
  • Poet, teaching artist, and arts administrator Mary Barrett
  • Poet, educator, and founder of The Muslim Writers Collective, Dr. Naazneen Diwan
  • Cleveland-based community activists and social entrepreneurs ThirdSpace Action Lab. 

To learn more about our artists-in-residence and their forthcoming projects,  visit our 2019-20 Glenville AIR's page. 

Twenty youth accepted into TLA's One Mic Open  Youth After School Poetry Fellowship 

Twelve Literary Arts Accepted 20 youth to participate in our One Mic Open After School Youth Poetry Fellowship. Fellowship youth accepted represent neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio, and attend a diverse mix of private, parochial, inner-city and suburban public schools. To learn more about the One Mic Open After School Fellowship  visit our After School Fellowship page. 

Twelve Literary Arts programs are  brought to you thanks to the generous support of: