In addition to curating a full slate of year-round educational arts programming and the annual Rooted & Radical youth poetry festival, Young Chicago Authors collaborates with multiple arts institutions and community organizations in Chicago and across the country on special one-off performance events featuring YCA staff and associate artists, including the current and recent projects listed below.

Open Workshops

Every Word Counts

Every Word Counts is a one-stop-shop to polish production, songwriting, and collaboration skills. We approach songs as worlds in which every sound plays a role.

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Under the Mic

Join YCA educator and recording artist Matt Muse for a weekly rap writing and professional development workshop.

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Check the Method (Poetry)

Check The Method, is a weekly poetic writing experience that explores the many styles and avenues of poetic expression such as lyric essays and memoirs, collage building and scrapbooking, journaling and free write prompts, and much more.

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Queeriosity

Queeriosity is a free monthly poetry salon for LBGTQ and questioning youth aged 12-25 to explore the world through a queer lens.

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Book YCA

Young Chicago Authors specializes in collaborating with organizations to bring young artists to new audiences in fresh and unique ways. If you’re interested in commissioning YCA poets or bringing our artists to your organization, please contact booking@youngchicagoauthors.org.

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