Since 2006, the LAVA (Literary and Visual Arts) series has offered our students the chance to read their original work to audiences at a variety of sites, on- and off-campus. In 2018, the Writing and Publishing Department transitioned to student curation of these events. A specially chosen team of students now plans our reading series each year, choosing readers, themes and venues, as well as running the events themselves. The result is a more vibrant, diverse, and student-centered reading series. (Our end-of-reading raffles remain another longstanding tradition.)

Middle school Writing and Publishing students, meanwhile, also participate in LAVA events, and have their own showcase each May. Students work throughout the year — sometimes in conjunction with visiting writers — on pieces to read for this event, held in Lincoln Park’s main theater.

The Writing and Publishing Department maintains a busy annual schedule of events. We offer students the opportunity to share their work with the public in a variety of settings, developing polished public speakers who are also able to think on their feet. We also give our students the chance to propose, develop, and run many of these events, giving them invaluable hands-on, behind-the-scenes experience in event planning, logistics and entrepreneurship.

Another tradition, which dates back to the school’s first year of existence, is the two-day LAVA Festival each May. Held in collaboration with the Media Arts Department, the LAVA Festival sends off soon-to-be graduates at the Senior Reading, and sees the release of new titles from BatCat Press and the new edition of pulp.. Lincoln Park’s award-winning literary journal. The festival closes each year with an awards ceremony, where students whose work has been judged by professional writers receive prizes and public recognition.

Students on the Publishing track make many public appearances on behalf of BatCat Press, the nation’s only high school student-run small press, and SMG (SIREN Media Group). BatCat members have traveled to festivals throughout the region, from Beaver BookFest to Pittsburgh’s Handmade Arcade, and many also choose to attend the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference. And we’ve taken the whole department to Pittsburgh’s City Theatre to see professional performances of work from some of our student winners in the Young Playwrights Competition!

In November 2019, members of the Writing and Publishing Department joined author Kevin Haworth at a book release event at Pittsburgh’s White Whale Bookstore. It was the department’s first official Pittsburgh reading, but it is certain that, as we continue to grow and expand our reach, that many others will follow!