Cleveland, OH — Literary Cleveland, an organization striving to create a strong community of writers and readers in Northeast Ohio, has officially achieved tax-exempt status. The Internal Revenue Service sent its letter of confirmation to Literary Cleveland on May 12, designating the organization as a 501c (3) nonprofit after just nine months of existence.
The designation coincidentally comes at the same time the organization is opening registration for its signature event, the Cleveland Inkubator, a free, one-day writers’ conference held at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library.
“We’re grateful for the confidence placed in us by 250 members, funders and Northeast Ohio’s writing community,” said Lee Chilcote, executive director of Literary Cleveland. “As we approach our one-year anniversary in August, we’re looking forward to building on our momentum. Our long-term goal is to help put Cleveland’s writing community on the map.”
Literary Cleveland offers classes, workshops, readings and networking events at libraries, bookstores and other venues around town. While celebrating the work of current Cleveland writers, the organization also helps less-experienced writers improve their craft by providing instruction for a wide variety of published authors, journalists, poets and professors.
The Cleveland Inkubator is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 30th from 8:30 am – 5 pm at Cleveland Public Library downtown. The event, which is open to adult and teen writers (14-18) will feature workshops on fiction, nonfiction, poetry and other topics, as well as craft talks on comics, writing for a living, and more. A resource fair for writers with independent booksellers will be held in the lobby. Additionally, the nonprofit Lake Erie Ink will host an open mic.
Literary Cleveland served over 1,000 people in Northeast Ohio’s literary community in its first year through these events. Following its premier event, the Cleveland Inkubator, Literary Cleveland sent out a call for founding members. 175 people responded, raising nearly $10,000. Literary Cleveland is on target to attract 300 to 400 total members by the end of 2016.
The group of Cleveland writers and readers who launched Literary Cleveland a year ago aimed to highlight and connect our region’s New York Times bestselling novelists, award-winning poets, Broadway-produced playwrights and celebrity comic artists with one another while breeding the next generation. The 501c(3) tax-exempt status allows the organization to continue this exciting journey.
“This isn’t a just a pipe-dream anymore,” said Susan Petrone, president of Literary Cleveland’s board of trustees. “As Cleveland’s newest nonprofit organization, Literary Cleveland is committed to the power of the written and spoken word. We’re helping Greater Cleveland tell its own story, one person at a time.”
Mission statement: Literary Cleveland serves writers and readers through a collaborative network of services that inform, advance and elevate the literary arts for the benefit of all in the Northeast Ohio region.
##
