Lexington's long history of being a hub and haven for talented writers and avid readers will be celebrated with a series of events next month. It's part of the city's year long 250 Lex commemoration. Lexington arts and cultural affairs director, Heather Lyons.
"Even before the naming of the city of Lexington in 1775, this area had a reputation as a literary and educational hub. We had the first newspaper, book publisher, university, library, and bookstore east of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. So it was obvious to many of us that any celebration of Lexington's Two Hundred And Fiftieth Anniversary had to include recognition of our writers, authors, publishers, and other related creative industries."
An evening inspired by the written word takes place on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30PM at the Kentucky Theatre. The free public event will feature numerous Lexington Authors and performers, including readings by current and former Lexington based Kentucky poets' laureates, Silas House, Frank x Walker, George Ella Lyon, and Jeff Worley. National book award recipient, Nicki Finney, hip hop and spoken word artist, Tony Wavy, Lexington youth poet laureate, Ava Alcaraz Monet, plus choreographed dance, musical, and theater performances.
Lexington's Carnegie Center is also sponsoring a number of literary Lexington events.
Executive director, Jennifer Maddox.
"At 250 Lex special edition Kentucky great writer series reading will take place here in this room on April 15 and will celebrate Lexington's Kentucky Poets Laureate, including Silas House, Georg Ella Lyon, Gurney Norman, Frank X. Walker, Crystal Wilkinson, and Jeff Worley. Our Kentucky Black Writers Collaborative's Burn the Mic event will be on April 22nd and it'll feature Monet Proctor and Renee Rigdon. And we're also going to have a Larkspur Press Broadside exhibit in our gallery all through April that will celebrate works primarily written by Lexington Writers."
You can view the entire calendar of literary Lexington events at 250Lex.com.
