826LA and Beyond Baroque invite you to a magical evening of music, poetry, and creative expression at the iconic Wanda Coleman Theater in Venice. Whether you’ve got verses to share, a story that’s been waiting to be told, or just want to cheer on some incredible young voices, this is your night.

Students from 826LA’s summer writing workshops will take the mic with fresh new work, and we’re opening the stage to the whole community. Come step into the spotlight—or simply show up and be inspired.

Hosted by Ariadne Makridakis Arroyo, this all-ages event is geared toward teens and adults. Open mic participants will have 5 minutes to share their brilliance. On-site sign-ups begin at 5:45 PM. Light refreshments provided, and good vibes guaranteed.

Let’s make some creative magic together.

Join actor and writer Jerrika Hinton (Grey's Anatomy, Hunters) for a fun, movement-filled screenwriting workshop!

Learn how to connect your body and creativity to tell your story in a whole new way.

Changing the Story is 826LA’s 20th anniversary celebration, and we’re throwing a party as only 826LA can—full of storytelling, creativity, and a little bit of magic! Join us for an unforgettable night celebrating two decades of young voices, featuring inspiring student stories, special performances, and chances to change the story for future writers. Expect laughter, surprises, and plenty of ways to support 826LA’s free writing programs—all while having a fantastic time!

In the “Moving Words” workshop, students will play writing games and work with prompts to create unique short stories. They will explore space, shape, and emotion through movement inspired by their stories. Connecting creative writing with physical movement, participants will collaborate to weave their narratives into a play.

Matthew Shaffer, an MFA Graduate, blends storytelling with a mission to promote healing through art. With 25 years of experience as a writer, choreographer, and performer in broadway, film, and television, he also teaches at collages and conventions across the US and Europe.

Young People are often taken to museums by older people in their lives, but not all museums work for young people. In this workshop, students will tour a bit of the hammer, discuss the purpose of museums, and eventually write a proposal for their very own dream museum.

Marlowe has designed and delivered art and writing programs for more than twenty years. She is a novelist, a librettist, and has taught students from pre-school to college. She believes that writing is a life skill to be cultivated from an early age.

In this workshop, we’ll explore play, experimentation, and joy in writing. What makes a story come alive? How can writers remix genres like fiction, poetry, hip-hop, and social media to create fresh, spontaneous work? How do rhythm and poetry fuel creativity?

Ricco Siasoco is a writer and educator. He is the author of The Story Collection, The Foley Artist (Gaudy Boy, 2019)

This is a one-day workshop on Saturday, February 22nd for students ages 7-12 led by published writer Maddie Silva and taking place at Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica, with free transportation from both of our centers. Students will be able to write poems inspired by hundreds of funny and fascinating Photos!

Buses to the workshop will leave from Echo Park at 12pm and Mar Vista at 12:30pm. 

Accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Amplify your writing with AI in this 2-session workshop.

Become a published author! All participants are eligible to submit to the 826LA 20th Anniversary Anthology, themed "coming into your own." Any genre is welcome. This is a free workshop for high school students, and food is provided. Students should plan to attend both sessions.

This is a one-day workshop on January 25th from 2-5pm for students aged 13-18, led by published fiction writer Trevor Crown and taking place at Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica, with free transportation from both of our centers. Students will have the opportunity to write stories and poems inspired by the thousands of photographs on the walls of the art exhibit "Lost and Found."

Buses to the workshop will leave from Echo Park at 1pm and Mar Vista at 1:30pm. 

Accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Many people understand the importance of recycling and reusing art materials for the environment, but not everyone knows how fun it can be! In this workshop, students will explore eco-surrealism by using magazine cutouts and found objects to create a metaphorical self-portrait.

Morgan Moto is an eco-surrealist artist whose work captures inspiration drawn from the physical world, sparking creativity. Through a process that blends personal emotion with the synchronicities of the environment, Moto brings new life to recycled, organic, and second-hand materials.

A free workshop from leading game development company Gamefam on how to create and pitch great game ideas.