WHAT WE DO

Director

Jennifer Colville, Ph.D., M.F.A.

Jennifer Colville is a writer and community arts organizer. In 2013 she founded Prompt Press, a project connecting visual artists, book artists and writers. She speaks and leads creative writing workshops on “The Inventive Feminist Voice,” and the intersection of writing and visual art. Elegies for Uncanny Girls, a collection of short stories, was published in 2017 by Indiana University Press. She has taught at the University of Iowa, San Francisco State, Coe College, Cornell College among others; and published fiction and non-fiction in such places as The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, Diagram, The Huffington Post, and Longreads. Jennifer is a 2022/2023 Iowa Artist Fellow.

WE PROVIDE THE SPACE, YOU PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY

PorchLight provides a space for writers of all ages, income levels, and levels of experience to connect with other writers and participate in Iowa City's rich literary offerings.

We are a member run community offering space for readings, workshops, work sessions, residencies and literary gatherings, with a special interest in interdisciplinary and outreach projects.

Find out how you can become a member here.

PROGRAMMING

We currently offer three regular programs: The Free Generative Writing Workshops, The Fairweather Writing Sessions, and the Long Project Check-in.

We co-sponsor many other events so check our calendar for the latest.

COMMUNITY SALON

Come visit our community salon open 11-3 on Saturday. Inside you'll find information on local and regional literary happenings, a gallery for Image and Text creations, a board for those seeking book or writing groups, a series of specially curated mini libraries, deep chairs, and brewed coffee. Consider us your "Welcome Center" for the City of Literature.

RESIDENCIES AND WRITER'S RETREAT

Upstairs PorchLight provides a furnished apartment for use by local art organizations with established residencies. Alternately the space is available to writers looking for a quiet yet inspiring get away in which to write. Contact jennifer@porchlightliterary.org to book your stay.

RESIDENT ARTIST

PorchLight offers a sustainable year round living space for a literary artist with an interdisciplinary focus.