Events
What is happening in The Room?
Join in the art!
The Room to Write & Arts Collaborative of Wakefield
collaborate for "Tell Me a Story"
Art Exhibit & Sale in April!
Exhibit Dates:
9 Albion Street, Wakefield, MA
Fridays: April 5, 12, 19 & 26 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturdays: April 6, 13 & 20 - 11:00am - 2:00pm
Opening Reception:
Friday, April 5 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Closing Reception:
Friday April 26 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm
See the schedule and mark your calendars for
Family Friendly Storytime Art Hour below!
The Room to Write is participating in April's art exhibit in three ways:
1. A special exhibit will feature poems and short written pieces inspired by artwork from 13 ACW artists.
2. A Local Author Table featuring 20 books written by 20 local authors living all around us.
3. Three Family Friendly Storytime Art Hours featuring 6 local picture book authors.
Family Friendly Storytime Art Hours
Watercolors and kids don't always mix well, but we're hoping to change that with our Family Friendly Storytime Art Hours at the Albion Cultural Exchange during the Arts Collaborative of Wakefield's April "Tell Me a Story" Art exhibit.
The Room to Write has set aside three hours (with two authors per hour) during the month of April when the crowds will be gone, the art will be up, and kids will have an opportunity to listen to stories written by local authors while parents and caregivers can enjoy the art exhibit. What a wonderfully creative space to hear a locally sourced story told within and kids can join their parents after story time to view the art at their own pace!
The Room to Write will raffle off a copy of each story time book as a door prize:) See schedule below and mark your calendars!
To learn more about the Art Collaborative of Wakefield visit: https://www.artscollaborativeofwakefield.com/
Fri, April 12th:
1:00pm -
Christine Ricci-McNamee
Logan and the Missing Crown Jewels
1:30pm -
Karin Gertsch
Flora Has an Adventure
Wed, April 17th:
9:00am -
Andrew Hacket
Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea
9:30am -
Tina Hart
The Hart of the Home
Fri, April 26th:
1:00pm -
Joy Wieder
The Passover Mouse
1:30pm -
Ralph Tufo
True Friends Indeed
Thanks to local artist Joy Schilling for the accompanying image above. This 2'x4' acrylic painting was part of Creatures & Critters, the Arts Collaborative's fall exhibit at the Albion Cultural Exchange.
Writers and Illustrators Meet & Greet
Thursday, January 18th
8:00am to 10:00am
Brothers Deli - Restaurant
404 Main Street, Wakefield, MA
We started the year and the day off in a creative direction at our quarterly Meet & Greet. Adult writers and illustrators of all genres and levels were invited to meet up and share goals, ideas, and information with each other. Read our blog recap of the event here:)
This was our first-ever early-bird timeslot, so attendees stopped by for a muffin, cup of coffee, and some creative inspiration for the journey!
If you have anything you’d like to share: a published book, a poem written on a napkin, an art portfolio, sample of your creative work in any form, a flier for an upcoming event—be sure to bring it along to share and celebrate. If you do not have any of those things or do not wish to share, just show up!
Another Great Local Author Fair
This is the second year in a row the Wakefield Library, The Room to Write and Whitelam Books came together to support local authors and readers alike. This year fifteen different authors were available selling and signing their books as well as answering questions from readers.
Click here to read more and see photos from this year's fair.
There was a little of everything, from picture books for the youngest among us, to middle grade and young adult novels, as well as a variety of fiction for adults.
It was a wonderful opportunity for readers to connect with authors, but also for authors to connect with each other!
Link to the authors: Margarita Barresi, JR Giuliano, Regina Mouradian, Christine Ricci-McNamee, Taylor Tyng, Kerry Crisley, Ali Kaden, Tim O'Leary, Lisa Stringfellow, Kip Wilson, Karin Gertsche, Gail Lowe, Sarah Lynne Reul, Doughlas L. Heath & Alison C. Simcox.
Past Events from The Room?
Writers and Illustrators Meet & Greet: Click the link to the left to see photos and follow-up from meet & greets held on:
October 16, 2023 at Panera in Saugus
July 27, 2023 at Albion Cultural Exchange in Wakefield
April 26, 2023 at Stoneham Teen Center in Stoneham
January 20, 2023 at Caffe Nero in Peabody
October 24, 2022 at Follow Your Arts Community Studios in Melrose
July 27, 2022 at Patton Homestead in Hamilton
April 11, 2022 at Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield
January 26, 2022 at WCAT Studios (virtually)
December 30, 2019 at Bunratty Tavern in Reading
September 23, 2019 at Wahlburgers in Lynnfield
June 26, 2019 at Susie's Stories in Rockport
March 28, 2019 at Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield
March 20, 2019 at Cedric's Studio in Wakefield
December 10, 2018 at Barnes & Noble in Peabody
September 17, 2018 at Whitelam Books in Reading
June 18, 2018 at Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield
March 19, 2018 at Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield
December 18, 2017 at Harrington's Pub
September 18, 2017 at the Albion Cultural Exchange
June 5, 2017 at Wakefield Community Access Television Studios
April 3, 2017 at The Savings Bank's Community Room
February 20, 2017 at the Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield's Teen Room
November 12, 2022
November 18, 2023
January 21, 2020: ShopTalk w/ Kris Asselin at Wakefield Library
February 15, 2020: Senior Bookmaking Workshops w/ Lisa Bastoni at Brightview Senior Living
Sponsored by Wakefield Rotary Club
Festival by the Lake: Click the link to the left for recaps on all the fun we've had at the festival. Festival by the Lake is an annual festival held in June in Wakefield with crafters, nonprofits, food, music and fun!
Write After Dinner Series: Click the link to the left to see photos and follow-up from events held on:
April 21, 2017 - Writing the Music for The Wishing Hour with Singer-Songwriter Lisa Bastoni
October 21, 2016 - Writing Seriously From Scratch with Chef Joe Gatto
November 16, 2022 at the Wakefield Senior Center
May 22, 2022 at Whitelam Books and sponsored by Ally Houghton Photography
If you have an idea, please contact The Room to Write.
For more information about all the wonderful things happening in Wakefield check out the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, the Albion Cultural Exchange and the Events Planning Committee websites.