Nov 20, 2025
Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kingston Literacy & Skills Announces New Funding to Expand WordLabs Literary Arts Programming
Following a successful soft launch this spring, Kingston Literacy & Skills (KL&S) is thrilled to announce new project funding to expand WordLabs, its emerging literary arts initiative. WordLabs currently offers writing workshops, seminar classes, peer writing groups, and a weekly WordLabs Out Loud radio program on CFRC.
With support from the City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF), WordLabs will broaden its 2025–2026 programming to include dedicated youth workshops and seminars, public open-mic opportunities for WordLabs participants, and professional development workshops in partnership with other community arts organizations. In partnership with the Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF), WordLabs will deliver a film development and screenwriting seminar series, with a free workshop offered as part of KCFF’s 2026 festival. This series will create meaningful creative development opportunities for emerging and established film and media artists.
In addition, in partnership with the Kingston Music Office, WordLabs will facilitate a series of professional development workshops for artists, covering topics such as crafting compelling artist bios and developing successful grant applications.
Generous support from the Davies Foundation, which was announced earlier this month, will further enable WordLabs to offer bursaries for community members to select writing series, ensuring that financial barriers do not limit access to workshops and personal or professional creative development.
Aara Macauley, Literary Programming Coordinator for WordLabs, expressed her appreciation for the community’s support, saying “WordLabs is deeply grateful to the City of Kingston, the Kingston Arts Council, and the Davies Foundation for their generous support of this emerging program. With their support, we can offer local artists meaningful, paid opportunities to share their craft, while also expanding access to low-cost workshops and creative skill development for participants across Kingston’s artistic community.”
Media Contact:
Aara Macauley
Literary Programming Coordinator
Kingston Literacy & Skills
Phone: 1 (613) 547-2012
Email: amacauley@klsread.ca
About Kingston Literacy & Skills
Kingston Literacy & Skills (KL&S) is a non-profit community agency that provides free training for adults in Kingston, Ontario, and the surrounding communities. With over 48 years of experience, KL&S has helped thousands of adults achieve their goals through personalized instruction in English language, reading, writing, math, computers, and job skills. Programs are delivered in a modern, accessible, and welcoming environment.