Creating words

Art comes in many different forms. One local group is ramping up its efforts to make sure writing is honored as one of those forms. 

The dulcet  tones of Phil Terman, a retire Clarion University poetry professor, navigates a small group of writers who have something to say - something to express.
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The Bridge Literary Arts Center's mission is to support the prosperity of literature, language and art in the greater western Pennsylvania region.

They do that through workshops, publications, open mic events, and a literary festival.

​And they are open to all. 

​"The Bridge Literary Arts Center welcomes anyone who enjoys wordsmithing in any form," the group states on their website. "The Bridge Literary Arts Center evolved out of the Bridge Coffee House and Performance Space, which started in 1993, and had monthly events of literary readings, musical performances, art shows, artisan baked goods, and, I believe, the first espresso machine in Venango County," said Philip Terman, one of the group's organizers.

​For a time, the group was hosted by the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin. 

In 2011, the group moved its workshops to a local bookstore, and in 2014 started publishing the "Bridge Literary Arts Journal" about every other year. 

The journal is dedicated to highlighting regional authors and artists in western Pennsylvania, especially those in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties. A call for submission is accepted to happen later this year. To help with this effort, the group previously partnered with Bridge Builders Foundation to accept donations. ​

It is one of many things the group has plotted out for 2024. 

​"Since the pandemic, we kind of ramped it up, now offering workshops and open mics, special events, a literary festival, and collaboration with other artists and community-related organizations," Terman said. Those events rotate locations between libraries and private businesses in Clarion, Franklin and Oil City. ​

​In the next few weeks, the group will hold two events. A virtual open mic featuring award-winning author Jane McCafferty from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24.

​The regular monthly in-person open mic will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Baked Goods from Heaven in Oil City. 

​​Moving forward, the group expects in-person open mics to be scheduled mainly at 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month and the workshops to be at 11 a.m. on the fourth Saturday.

​"The purpose of the workshops is to foster writing in Venango County and (the) surrounding region," Terman explained. "We hope to integrate the literary arts with the already-thriving arts here in theater and music. Participants can hope to gain a community of other writers, who love to share their work and grow in their writing, as well as help enhance the cultural life of our region." 

To keep up with all the details on the Bridge's gatherings and receive a link to virtual programs, email the group at [email protected]. Information is also available at bridgeliteraryartscenter.org.