Check out the Art Sanctuary’s 26th Annual Festival of Black Writing Festival from today through Saturday at Temple University Main Campus. Enjoy inspiring workshops and panel discussions, family activities, powerful performances, a book fair with author signings, food, crafts— and a few words from Mayor Michael Nutter. Plus the first object collection events for the First Person Museum! And its all free!


Here’s footage from last years festival…



For the family there are kid-friendly readings, entertainment, face painting and workshops for kids and teens. Adults can take part in a variety of workshops from how to get your poetry published to becoming a successful freelance writer, or panel discussions ranging from blogging to sci-fi to the LGBTQ Community.

And First Person is getting in the act too! We’ll be collecting objects for the First Person Museum at two festival workshops on Saturday: Through the Bars: A Workshop on Objects and Memorials for People Affected by Incarceration led by Dee Johnson and Angel Hogan and Objects, Memory and Story: Transform Your Stories into Writing led by Lise Funderberg. Objects, Memory and Story is currently sold-out online but walk-ins are welcome. Both workshops are at Ritter Hall Annex and you can register here.


These are the first two of many collection events throughout the summer for the First Person Museum and we want YOUR stories and objects . Keep checking the First Person Museum page for updates on how you can get involved, either at one of our collection events or via online submissions.


-Tiffany Thwaites