“Winterim” Program Gives Young Pennsylvania Writers Creative Outlet

Publication: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Date: March 9, 2010

Summary: The Western Pennsylvania Writing Project co-sponsored the first Young Writers Institute's "Winterim," a creative writing program that involved theater, radio, computers, guitars, paint, and a very creative group of teachers.

Excerpt from Article

These students have been taught by a cast of characters" says Matthew Luskey, director of the University of Pittsburgh's Western PA Writing Project that co-sponsored the program with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Pitt provided the writing instructors and the Trust provided artists in residence. Combined, they explored genres of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, song writing and plays.

"This is uncharted," says artist-in-residence Joe Lewis, a filmmaker who shot students in action. His films will be combined with student work for an online magazine that will come later this spring. In keeping with the National Writing Project's philosophy, instructors will be included, too.

Until this winter, the Young Writers Institute was only a summer program offered at the same time as the Summer Institute for Teachers, a graduate program affiliated with the National Writing Project. The project advocates that "the best teachers of writing are the teachers who write," says Luskey.

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