City of Asylum
Giving Voice.
Join Cristina Modreanu for a conversation on her book Performing Womanhood in Eastern Europe: The Other White Woman as it approaches its first anniversary. Performing Womanhood in Eastern Europe explores a distinctive form of womanhood... more →
Strega Prize–winning novelist Andrea Bajani explores the aftermath of an abusive marriage, the son who bore witness to it, and his liberating decision to leave those family connections behind.
Pittsburgh's importance as a Jazz city involves many different facets and the history of the Jazz guitar is well represented here. On September 24, we will celebrate this aspect of... more →
The award-winning author of “If They Come For Us” uses their sophomore collection of meditative poems to pursue the question: Exiled from ancestral homelands, how can one find a place for themself in the world?
Guatemalan author Eduardo Halfon, a recipient of the Guatemala National Prize in Literature, presents a novel of memory, violence, connection, estrangement, and the long-term impact of individual and collective trauma.
The Áñez twins’ music is designed to be performed with a stripped-down setup that centers vocals and small instruments. This performance is presented as a part of "Songs in the Key of She," a platform in which talented women in music share their creativity and stories with new audiences.
The songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart created many masterpieces for the Great American Songbook. Vocalist Grace Elliott, one of Pittsburgh's best young singers, will present her interpretations... more →
Join Khirsten Scott for a conversation with Yona Harvey on her upcoming collection Leap & Grow Feathers, which publishes on September 15, 2026. Both an instruction and a divination, Leap & Grow Feathers is an extraordinary transmission.... more →
Join in on the film festival fun this October with an international queer film screening from Reel Q as they celebrate their nine-day film festival!
Everyone has those conversations they replay over and over in their head. This October, head to Alphabet City with your comebacks, last words, and unspoken apologies for Story Club PGH’s “Things Left Unsaid” Story Slam.
South African Poet Laureate and celebrated author Mongane Wally Serote discusses his literary oeuvre and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto rebellion.
Pittsburgh-based poet grace (ge) gilbert shares their hybrid form, debut full-length poetry collection exploring the murder of their grandmother in 1976 and the ripple-effect this loss had on their family.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Alton Merrell and trio members Jeff Grubbs and David Throckmorton present a combination lecture and performance demonstrating the legendary artist McCoy Tyner’s lasting impact on jazz.
Originally from Ukraine, Olena Boryshpolets has been a Writer-in-Residence at the City of Asylum Fellowship for Ukrainian Writers since 2023. Join us for a presentation of her new poem The Bride.... more →
Drummer and composer James Johnson III shares a project three years in the making: a suite of songs inspired by nature, where a trio of strings joins a traditional jazz quintet.
One of America’s foremost poets, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, author of 13 books of poetry and winner of the Bollingen Prize for Poetry, visits Alphabet City, in conversation with the director of Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series.
From the minds of Andrew Swensen and Yan Pang, City of Asylum hosts an expanded showcase of “Shelter,” the story of scars carried from childhood into adulthood, how pain can distort our perception and damage our relationships, and how we find our strength through it.
Christopher Mark Jones returns for an encore of “Montréal Encore,” with a new troupe of fellow musicians putting a diverse spin on compositions of the original album (and a few new mixes!) for a brand new experience.
Hear a preview of the Stephen Philip Harvey Octet’s latest project, Mythos—an album of original music inspired by African diaspora mythology.
Anthology contributor Lin Hierse and translator Jon Cho-Polizzi present the first-ever international anthology of contemporary writing on Berlin, presented in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh German Department’s “Germany of Campus” series.
There are some connections you just can’t shake. This November, join Story Club PGH for their monthly Story Slam as storytellers share tales under the umbrella “Ties That Bind.”
Iconic Pittsburgh bassist Paul Thompson celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jaco Pastorius’ eponymous debut album.
All-new compositions inspired by the work of artists such as Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.
Prolific author and essayist Jamaica Kincaid shares new PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay–winning collection in conversation with Anderson Tepper.
Composer and pianist Joe Sheehan shares his latest project: a suite of all-original compositions inspired by fictional legendary places.
Sometimes you have it. And sometimes, you just…lose it. This December, join Story Club PGH for their monthly Story Slam as storytellers share tales under the umbrella “Slipped Through My Fingers.”
Lifelong guitarist Mila Shadel shares her fully original arrangements of the music of Joni Mitchell, one of her musical heroes.
Saxophonist Lou Stellute leads two other saxophonists—Scott Boni and Ben Opie—and a rhythm section filled out by Paul Thompson and George Heid III in a program featuring multiphonics and completely improvised tunes.
