MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center and the Resilience project are presenting the New Voices 1-Poetry Reading on Saturday, Aug. 12.

The event takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the center, located at 21456 Highway 175.

While the reading is free to the public, donations will be accepted on behalf of MAC.

Hosted by local poet and writing facilitator Casey Carney, a Lake County poet laureate emerita, this is the first of a series of readings designed to give local poets and writers, many performing for the first time, the opportunity to present their work to the community.

New Voices is part of the Resilience project, supported in part by funding from the California Arts Council.

Resilience includes low cost ($5) workshops in photography, poetry/written and spoken word, painting and printmaking that cycle through the first through fourth Saturdays of each month until May 2018.

Adults of all ages and teens 12 up are invited to join one or many workshop sessions. All levels of experience from newbie to professional are welcome.

The poetry/written and spoken word sessions take place every second Saturday of the month. There is a workshop on Aug. 12, prior to the reading. Please preregister at www.MiddletownArtCenter.org/classes.

The Aug 12 reading will feature readings by Carol Butzbach, Cindy Chatham, Heather Kipnis, Daniel Lucas, Jessyca Lytle, Charles Moton and Torrie Quintero, and a performance by special guest musician Gigi Cohen.

The program will include a tribute to Lake County Poet Laureate Emeritus Sandra Wade (April 1944-July 2017).

Anyone wishing to participate in Resilience workshops or future readings and events can contact the Middletown Art Center at 707-809-8118, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the MAC Web site at www.MiddletownArtCenter.org.