City of Asylum
Giving Voice.
Bosnian-American author Aleksandar Hemon talks about language and exile, his love of football, and the power of music and storytelling.
Musician James Brandon Lewis and poets Huang Xiang, Doralee Brooks, and Haile Bizen present a jazz poetry concert of improvisational and collaborative performance.
Diane Samuels and Rania Mamoun will discuss their collaborative work, in conversation with Sylvia Rhor Samaniego.
Take an optional tour of the Malta Foundation’s extraordinary private collection of international artwork.
Acclaimed American architect and urbanist Teddy Cruz and French writer, documentarian, and cultural activist, Philippe Ollé Laprune discuss their groundbreaking work on the US/Mexico Border.
In celebration of our growing global community, of the many places we learn to call home, and of the first-ever Bridges Creative Summit, we invite all our neighbors to an afternoon of food, music, and conversation.
This evening’s performance from The Happy Lovers will accompany contributions and readings from other City of Asylum writers-in-residence and visiting ICORN residents.
A dynamic DJ set from DJ Cielo (known in the literary scene as Aleksandar Hemon) featuring Afro House and Organic House music.
This June, bring your tales of friends to lovers, golden retriever and black cat friendships, and shockingly supportive grandparents learning about your alternative lifestyle.
For over a decade, City of Asylum has hosted Cave Canem’s annual Faculty Reading each June, coinciding with their week-long retreat at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This year’s reading presents esteemed faculty and world-class poets A. Van Jordan, Matthew Shenoda, and Joy Priest.
A writer without a country. A city with no off switch. A memory that keeps looping back at the worst possible time. Don't miss this discussion of Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko's "Nothing Is Under Control."
We are thrilled to welcome La Muchacha, whose discography features bold, fearless tracks that address the sociopolitical crises faced by the Colombian people.
From the award-winning author of 2007’s "The Slave Ship," we celebrate the book launch of Marcus Rediker’s latest work: "Freedom Ship: The Uncharted History of Escaping Slavery by Sea."
Watch a screening of "I never promised you a Jasmine Garden" and seven other short films in this global film event presented by Queer Cinema for Palestine.
Beloved Pittsburgh musicians Hugo Cruz and Roger Humphries communicate through the language of the drums, introducing Cuba to Pittsburgh by way of percussion.
This production will feature the powerhouse vocals of local Pittsburgh divas Anita Levels and Anqwenique paying tribute to the work of Angie Stone.
Teju Cole shares "Tremor," a startling work of realism and invention that engages brilliantly with literature, music, race, and history as it examines the passage of time and how we mark it.
This July, Story Club Pittsburgh (created by the former producers of The Moth Pittsburgh) shares tales from the brink in Story Slam, their monthly nonfiction storytelling series at City of Asylum.
Enjoy a world-class jazz performance, fueled by the passion, knowledge, and immense talent of a man who has been drumming since the age of three.
This reading concludes Nabila’s two-week residency cohosted by City of Asylum and CAAPP. In this program, Nabila will share the newly composed work that came out of her residency, as well as insights into her writing process and her residency experience.
Kente Summer Madness honors Roy Ayers, one of the most heavily sampled artists in the hip hop genre and the Godfather of Neo Soul.
In a combination reading and inside scoop full of insights into his process, Damon gets personal with City of Asylum audiences to discuss the very subject that drove his hilarious and unique anthology of Black voices: humor.
This special Thursday Night Jazz performance features the album launch of George Heid III’s Intentions, a tribute album to his father’s bravery, sacrifices, and the bond the two shared as kindred spirits.
Writer-in-Residence Bo Mima shares newly written work and reflects on his time in Pittsburgh.
Grammy-nominated saxophonist and composer Godwin Louis takes to the stage for Kente Summer Madness Part 3.
A life laid bare, a wandering search for meaning, an immersive portal into history and its accompanying reverberations. All this and more can be found in Aatish Taseer’s "A Return to Self: Excursions in Exile."
Welcome an all-star lineup of some of Pittsburgh's best musicians, fusing classic jazz compositions with the Cuban drum tradition.
Etta Cox brings her incomparable stage presence and vocal prowess to Alphabet City to regale audiences with beloved jazz favorites and reimagined hidden gems.
Introducing On Topic, a new series at City of Asylum highlighting current events and topical social issues. For our series launch, we welcome esteemed legal scholar Michelle Adams to explore class and race in a discussion of her new book, "The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North."
Whether it’s all about the destination, or all about the journey and what you built along the way, this August, Story Club Pittsburgh is all about connection.
