In 2015, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts added a new artistic discipline to their repertoire: Literary Arts. Since its creation, the department has produced published poets, novelists, playwrights as well as scientists, journalists, and teachers. When a literary artist graduates, they leave prepared for “the real world”, with the abilities to effectively communicate and collaborate with others.

The Literary Arts curriculum is constructed to give students the skills and mentor texts they need to eventually take the reins of their writing, develop an authentic voice, and use that voice to inspire, form connections, or express truth. The teachers are practicing writers who have their specialties in film, poetry, fiction, and comics. They also recognize that Literary Arts goes beyond typical prose and poetry, encouraging students to pursue their love of writing in comics, film, podcasts, role playing, and even video games.

Community collaboration is fundamental to the department. Students submit films to the student section of the Greater Lehigh Valley Film Festival. The selected films are also shown at Becky’s Drive-In. Film not your cup of tea? Well have a cup of tea at the Literary Arts readings at Cafe the Lodge in Bethlehem! Enjoy a night of poetry and prose every First Friday.

Throughout all four years, each class has a showcase where they get to share their writing with family and peers. In addition to the annual showcase, the student-run publication, RUCKUS, gives students the opportunity to be published in a student-run literary magazine that is distributed around the school and Bethlehem. All of this is student-led, teaching self-advocacy, leadership, collaboration, and communication.

In addition to publishing, students also gain real-world experience by participating in the Musikfest Marketing project. They book the bands for a concert block, communicate with them, organize a press conference, create merchandise, advertise via social media, and emcee the concert.

The department has grown so much in these eleven years and continues to grow, yet, at the center of it all is the passion literary artists hold for their craft, the dedication to making their communities better, and their ability to redefine writing every day.