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City of Asylum

City of Asylum

Giving Voice.

  • About Us
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Home » About Us

Our Mission

City of Asylum builds a just community by protecting and celebrating freedom of creative expression.

We provide sanctuary to endangered writers and artists, so that they can continue to create and their voices are not silenced.

We offer a broad range of free literary, arts, and humanities programs in a community setting to build social equity through cultural exchange.

And by transforming dilapidated properties into homes for our programs, we anchor neighborhood economic development.

Our History

City of Asylum was founded in 2004 by Northside residents Diane Samuels and Henry Reese. Our first writer, Huang Xiang, arrived in Pittsburgh in 2004. Learn More…

City of Asylum Exiled Writer and Artist Residency Program

We offer short and long-term residencies to persecuted writers so that they can continue to write. City of Asylum’s Writer and Artist Residency Program promotes the transformation of cultural life in Pittsburgh while advancing the field of literature worldwide. Learn more…

Anouar Rahmani

Anouar Rahmani

Jorge Olivera Castillo

Jorge Olivera Castillo

Tuhin Das

Tuhin Das

Mai Khôi

Mai Khôi

Aunel Arneth Kimbembe Makaya

Aunel Arneth Kimbembe Makaya

Simten Coşar

Simten Coşar

Bewketu Seyoum

Bewketu Seyoum

Osama Alomar

Osama Alomar

Israel Centeno

Israel Centeno

Yaghoub Yadali

Yaghoub Yadali

Khet Mar

Khet Mar

Horacio Castellanos-Moya

Horacio Castellanos-Moya

Huang Xiang

Huang Xiang

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About City of Asylum
City of Asylum builds a just community by protecting and celebrating freedom of creative expression.
Contact City of Asylum
City of Asylum
40 W. North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412-435-1110
Email: contact@cityofasylumpittsburgh.org
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