Once upon a time (1997), a young lit-loving couple named Andrea Dupree and Michael J. Henry shared a vision for creating a welcoming space where writers could feel less solitary and help improve each other’s skills.
Lighthouse Writers Workshop grew beyond their wildest ambitions and has succeeded in putting the Mile High City on America’s literary map. Not only do they now have a newly-constructed dream space with 15 employees and 1,500 members, but they’ve also built an annual pilgrimage for established and would-be authors.
Lit Fest, which ends June 16, has become a beacon for thousands of writers of all levels and genres. The event features eight days of writing workshops, seminars, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and celebrations of the written word, both in-person and virtually. And this year’s festival has coincided with the grand opening of Lighthouse’s shiny new headquarters, ta 3844 York St., on what had been an empty lot in northeast Denver.
Dupree and Henry are in the happily-ever-after days. What began in their living room systematically outgrew more than half a dozen artsy but problematic locations around Denver over the past 25 years. With each move, Lighthouse attracted more collaborators and talent until the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected good fortune. The shift to virtual teaching vastly expanded its reach and led to a game-changing grant.
Last year, Colorado Creative Industries awarded Lighthouse Writers Workshop $2.4 million to construct an 11,000-square-foot building dedicated to housing the literary arts. Those American Rescue Plan funds materialized like manna. “The timing was perfect for us. This building wouldn’t have happened without the grant,” Dupree allowed.
Architect Collin Kemberlin, known for redesigns of Denver Union Station, History Colorado Center and other stylish landmarks, fashioned the newly finished Lighthouse building to complement its red-brick surroundings in the historic York Street Yards complex at 38th and York Street, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and ADA compliance.
Henry and Dupree are most proud of the three-story spiral staircase that mimics the inside of a lighthouse, and a large classroom named for the late Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransick, whose widow donated Ransick’s collection of poetry books for display and inspiration.
“Chris was a beloved teacher here. Mayor (John) Hickenlooper appointed him as poet laureate, and he was a big supporter of the literary arts,” Henry said. Ransick taught courses at Lighthouse for years in its previous iterations.
In the new building, industrial-style metal bookshelves, high ceilings, a kitchen for coffee and catering, event spaces, classrooms with soundproofing and smart TVs are features that the Lighthouse community wanted. Accent walls in shades of Jordan almonds are like smooth, candy-coated backdrops for cushy couches and comfy chairs. A cozy salon with a fireplace and numerous west-facing windows with views of downtown Denver, the Front Range, and the neighboring Coca-Cola plant frame the setting that could effectuate the next great American novel, poem, sci-fi thriller, murder mystery or memoir.
“We’ve seen eight of our book project mentees sign book deals with major publishers like Penguin Random House. A novel and a nonfiction book were published in 2022, and a middle-grade novel and a nonfiction book and story collection will be out this year,” noted Lighthouse Marketing and communications manager Alexa Culshaw.
Regular teaching programs attract seasoned professionals like Denver Post film and theater critic Lisa Kennedy, who has both taken and taught Lighthouse courses. Kennedy attended an advanced course with Nadia Owusu, whose memoir “Aftershocks” was on Barack Obama’s favorite books of the year list. “That teacher was amazing, and I was happy with the mix of other students who contributed in a rich way. I felt served,” said Kennedy, who is working on her own life story.
Children and teenagers who love writing are especially welcomed at Lighthouse, where a large room featuring black-and-purple checkerboard carpeting, a throne-like chair, and an antique wardrobe that leads to a secret book nook are meant to stimulate imaginations. A troop of passionate instructors teach in the Young Writers Program, including Assetou Xango, a community activist born and raised in Colorado who served as poet laureate of Aurora from 2017 to 2019.
Aspiring adult wordsmiths are drawn to the menu of workshops. Boulderite India Wood has taken seven Lighthouse workshops and seminars to help shape projects including her first paid magazine article, “Going Diagonal” for Colorado Life magazine. “Erika Krouse’s novel and short story workshop taught me practical creative writing tools. Joel Warner’s nonfiction workshop taught me a disciplined journalist’s approach to books and articles along with a creative spark,” Wood said.
“Now that they have this great new home, the question is will the appetite of the community support 365 days a year of literary programming? Will enough people have an insatiable passion to spend the money on courses?” Kennedy wonders if the hybrid teaching model of virtual and in-person will continue to draw students from other parts of Colorado and beyond. “Lit Fest is buzzy, which is helpful.”
The regional festival continues to attract top authors like Katie Kitamura, whose most recent novel “Intimacies” was named one of The New York Times’ Ten Best Books of 2021, and Rebecca Makkai, whose novel “The Great Believers” was a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist.
Lighthouse Writers Workshop, 3844 York St., Denver; 303-297-1185; lighthousewriters.org.
