City of Asylum

10/13/2026

On October 20, City of Asylum presents the premiere of “Bride,” a musical-poetic performance by Ukrainian writer and poet Olena Boryshpolets.

“Bride” explores femininity, the role of women in society, and the ways individual decisions shape our understanding of the world and its consequences.

Boryshpolets, a City of Asylum Writer-in-Residence since 2023, will be joined by violinist Marta Krechkovsky, with editing by Jake Grefenstette and readings by Chatham University students Elijah Russell, Remmy Goyette, and Maya Walker.

Tuesday, October 20
7–8:30 PM
Alphabet City

Free in-person and livestream tickets are available.

Learn more and get your tickets at cityofasylum.org/program/artist-in-exile-olena-boryshpolets-the-bride/

10/10/2026

This week at City of Asylum: A Poet Laureate, Visual Poetry, and Bulgarian Short Stories

Tomorrow: Sunday, October 11 @ 3 PM
Mongane Wally Serote with Dr. Christel N. Temple
Following yesterday's Freedom to Create Gala, City of Asylum is honored to welcome South African Poet Laureate and celebrated author Mongane Wally Serote to discuss his literary oeuvre and experience as an activist and author.

Monday, October 12 @ 7 PM
grace (ge) gilbert’s “Holly” with Diana Khoi Nguyen
grace (ge) gilbert’s debut full-length collection, "Holly", merges poetry, memoir, and visual art in an effort to recreate the author’s grandmother, who was murdered in her home in 1976.

Tuesday, October 6 @ 7 PM
Georgi Gospodinov’s “The Man with Many Names” with Angela Rodel and Anderson Tepper
Exhibiting a world-renowned author at his most playful and profound, "The Man with Many Names" captures the peculiarities of existence across forty tales set in and around his beloved Bulgaria, in and around this fading world.

All programs are free. You can attend in person at Alphabet City or watch online. Register today at cityofasylum.org/programs.

10/09/2026

A new review of grace (ge) gilbert’s debut poetry collection, “Holly,” is now out in The Adroit Journal. The review explores her use of collage, family history, grief, gender, and the lasting effects of generational trauma in “Holly.”

grace (ge) gilbert will discuss “Holly” with Diana Khoi Nguyen at City of Asylum on Monday, October 12 at 7 PM as part of PGHwrites. Read the review, then join us at Alphabet City next week: cityofasylum.org/program/pghwrites-grace-ge-gilberts-holly-with-diana-khoi-nguyen.

grace (ge) gilbert’s debut collection of poetry, Holly, published by YesYes Books in June 2026, is a chronicle of familial trauma and its aftermaths in the vein of Anne Carson’s Nox and Diana Kho…

10/08/2026

A remarkable achievement for a remarkable writer.

Congratulations to Anne Carson on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Just one year ago, City of Asylum honored Anne at our 2025 Freedom to Create Gala, celebrating her extraordinary contributions to literature and her work as a poet, essayist, classicist, and translator. We’re thrilled to see Anne receive this extraordinary recognition and proud to have celebrated her work here in Pittsburgh.

Read the full story in The Guardian: theguardian.com/books/2026/oct/08/wins-the-nobel-prize-in-literature-2026.

📸: Renee Rosensteel and City of Asylum Staff

10/06/2026

Following the Gala, City of Asylum is honored to welcome South African Poet Laureate and celebrated author Mongane Wally Serote to discuss his literary oeuvre and experience as an activist and author. Additionally, Mr. Serote will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Soweto rebellion, sharing notes about his friendship with the activist Steve Biko and other members of the Black Consciousness Movement—and drawing parallels to the Black Power Movement and Black Lives Matter Movement in the USA.

Register today at cityofasylum.org/program/artist-in-exile-mongane-wally-serote.

South African Poet Laureate Mongane Wally Serote discusses his work and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Soweto rebellion.

10/05/2026

Check out what City of Asylum Writer-in-Residence Olena Boryshpolets has been working on.

Her essay, “The Most Important Book of Our Time is about Gardens,” is now available from Pittsburgh Review of Books.

Read the full piece here: https://pghrev.com/the-most-important-book-of-our-time-is-about-gardens/

Then see Olena later this month at City of Asylum for the premiere of her musical-poetic performance, “Bride,” on Tuesday, October 20 at 7 PM.

Free in-person and livestream tickets are available at https://cityofasylum.org/program/artist-in-exile-olena-boryshpolets-the-bride.

Part One: Perspectives.

10/03/2026

This week at City of Asylum: Poetry, Films, and a Story Slam!

Tomorrow: Sunday, October 4 @ 3 PM
Yona Harvey’s “Leap & Grow Feathers” with Khirsten L. Scott
Both an instruction and a divination, "Leap & Grow Feathers" is an extraordinary transmission. In her third full-length collection, Yona Harvey listens—to her predecessors, her instincts, and her environment—gleaning sense from the static fraying our nerves, knowing the personal and the historical travel along the same frequency.

Monday, October 5 @ 7 PM
Reel Q Film Festival Presents: “Apolo”
"Apolo" follows the journey of a family formed by a transgender couple, revealing the nuances of love, daily life, and the constant struggle for recognition and respect. The documentary offers an intimate look into their family dynamics, inviting us to rethink our notions of affection, care, and society itself. Join us at 6:00 PM for happy hour and a special screening of "Thorns and Roses", a short film from Nepal.

Tuesday, October 6 @ 7 PM
Story Club PGH Presents: Story Slam!
Maybe it was an apology you swallowed, a confession you rehearsed but never delivered, or a truth you kept behind your teeth because the moment never felt right. It could be the goodbye you didn't get, the love you assumed was obvious, or the anger you decided wasn't worth the fight. Share a story of Things Left Unsaid at Story Club PGH’s Story Slam for the chance to win prizes and storytelling glory!

All programs are free! You can attend in person at Alphabet City or watch online. Register today at cityofasylum.org/programs.

10/02/2026

Join City of Asylum Writer-in-Residence Mukhtar Saad Shehata for “The Screen Novel: Storytelling Through Digital Interfaces,” an introductory creative writing workshop at Carnegie Mellon University.

This bilingual workshop will explore the Screen Novel, an experimental form of digital storytelling that uses everyday interfaces — including text messages, emails, notifications, maps, and social media posts — as part of the narrative itself.

Participants will explore examples, discussion, and a guided writing exercise. No prior experience in design, programming, or digital publishing is required. The workshop will be conducted in English and Arabic, and participants are welcome whether they speak one language or both.

Wednesday, October 21
5:30–7 PM
Danforth Lounge, 2nd Floor, CUC
Carnegie Mellon University

Dinner included, catered by Ali Baba.
RSVP by October 9 at tinyurl.com/CMU-ScreenNovel.

10/01/2026

October is finally here! As the days get colder and spooky season settles in, the City of Asylum Bookstore has plenty of stories to keep you company. This month, we're highlighting some new signed releases, plus a selection of scary stories that are perfect for a crisp fall night.

Explore our signed new releases: cityofasylumbooks.org/list/signed-new-releases
Step into these spooky small-press splendors: https://cityofasylumbooks.org/list/spooky-small-press-splendors

09/28/2026

Tickets are available for City of Asylum’s 2026 Freedom to Create Gala.

This year’s gala will honor Mongane Wally Serote, South Africa’s National Poet Laureate and one of the country’s celebrated writers. A poet and novelist, Serote’s work has been shaped by his experiences under apartheid and years spent in exile.

Friday, October 9
6 PM
Alphabet City

The evening will include a ch*****ne reception, dinner from Cucina Alfabeto, live music, a silent auction, and a keynote address by Wally Serote.

Limited Tickets Available - cityofasylum.org/gala-2026