City of Asylum/Pittsburgh
- Year Established:2004
- Last Updated: 12/08/2009
Project Overview Description: City of Asylum/Pittsburgh provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment or persecution in their native countries. COA/P enables writers to continue writing while in exile by providing housing, medical benefits, a living stipend, and help in securing publishers and long-term employment. COA/P also educates the public on issues relating to freedom of creative expression and multi-cultural collaboration through literary arts and jazz presentations, educational programs with schools and in the community, print and online publications, and text-based public art projects.
- Address: 330 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-440
- Website: cityofasylumpittsburgh.org (visit site)
- Telephone: 412-321-2190
- Project Contact: Henry Reese
- Brief Project Description (100 words): City of Asylum/Pittsburgh provides sanctuary to writers exiled under threat of death, imprisonment or persecution in their native countries. COA/P enables writers to continue writing while in exile by providing housing, medical benefits, a living stipend, and help in securing publishers and long-term employment. COA/P also educates the public on issues relating to freedom of creative expression and multi-cultural collaboration through literary arts and jazz presentations, educational programs with schools and in the community, print and online publications, and text-based public art projects.
Program / Development Partners
- Public/Civil Sector: Program
- Name: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Pennsylvania Office of Economic Development
- For-profit Private Sector:
- Name:
- Non-profit Sector: Program
- Name: Mattress Factory, New Hazlett Theater, PEN America, International Writing Program of the University of Iowa, International Cities of Refuge Network, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University
- Creative Industries Served: Visual arts
Included Space Types / Uses
- Live/Work Spaces: n/a
- Total Units(#): 4
- Units for Broader Community(#):n/a
- Total Affordable Units(#): 4
- Units for Resident Organization(#): 4
- Workspace Studios: n/a
- Total Units(#): n/a
- Total Affordable Units(#): n/a
- Units for Resident Organization(#): n/a
- Work Space/Studios: Area (SF):n/a
- Live-Only Spaces: n/a
- Total Units(#): n/a
- Units for Broader Community(#):n/a
- Total Affordable Units(#): n/a
- Units for Resident Organization(#): n/a
- Live Only: Area (SF): n/a
- Gallery: n/a
- Performance/Rehearsal Space: n/a
- Dance Studio Area (SF): n/a
- Recording Studio: n/a
- Office Space: n/a
- Multi-Purpose Space (e.g. for Community Use): n/a
- Additional Artist Amenities: Natural light
- Describe Sustainable Strategies Employed (250 words): Rehabs are undertaken with energy-efficiency in mind, including double-pane windows with screens, extensive insulation and weathersealing, vestibule doors, ceiling-mounted fans, extensive use of natural light. Bamboo floors have been used where original floors could not be refinished. A private garden suitable for vegetable growing is in the rear of each house.
- Description of Preservation Work (50 words): Three derelict properties restored per guidelines for historic preservation standards. Certification applied for and received for two; tax credits not needed for third, so did not request certification. Fourth property had been partially restored by prior owner and did not qualify for credits, for technical not restoration reasons.
- Description of Incubation Facilities, Resources, Programming (50 words): n/a
Links / Images / Attachments
- Links:
- Building Plans:
- Building Elevations:
- Photographs (up to 10):
-
Marketing Brochures/Press Clips/Advertisements:
- Jazz Poetry Marketing Brochure.pdf
- COA Event- Artists Performing at City of Asylum.pdf
- COA Events- Writers in residence, readings, and sponsored events.pdf
- COA List of Artist-in Residencies, by Residence.pdf
- COA Project- House Permutation.pdf
- COA Event- Jazz Poetry Concert-2007.pdf
- COA Article - Pittsburgh Post Gazette.PDF
- COA Article- Midwest Airlines.PDF
- COA Article- ODE- Homes away from home.pdf
- COA Articles- The right to write AND Asylum writers teach Americans a lesson.pdf
- COA-Article-PittsburghPostGazette.pdf
- COA-Article-PittsburghTribuneReview.pdf
- COA-Article-PostGazette-BestJazzConcert.pdf
- COA-Article-Rapportage-RefusingExile.pdf
- COA-Article-WQEDMultimedia.pdf
- Community Programming:
Professional Development & Training Services
Technique or studio training/ workshops
Community Service/Engagement Programs
Other
Shared: Facilities and Equipment
Shared: Administrative Infrastructure
Other Shared Resources
- Professional Development & Training Services: Career development services include helping writers acclimate to their new professional environment, connecting writers with publishers and agents, and helping writers seek out teaching and lecturing positions
- Population served+
Writers in residence
- Total Served Per Year:
- Technique or Studio Training/Workshops: One on one language and performance coaching, college-level teaching experience
- Population served+: Residents of neighborhood in which COA/P is located, general population of Pittsburgh
- Total Served Per Year:
- Other Programs: Writer residencies
- Population served+: Exiled, indigent writers; visiting international writers; visiting translators; visiting American writers;
- Shared Community Resources - Facilities and Equipment: 330 Sampsonia Way used for salon-style readings; neighborhood gardens are used for readings
- Shared Community Resources - Administrative Infrastructure: 330 Sampsonia Way used for administrative offices
- Shared Community Resources - Other: Public street is closed and used for events; public art accessible from public street