History

Founded in 1994 by the Dallas poet Robert Trammell, WordSpace is the city’s oldest 501(c)(3) literary organization. From its inception, WordSpace has presented the broadest possible spectrum of programs, featuring internationally known writers and performers such as NPR Andrei Codrescu, Scottish, Booker Prize winner James Kelman, NEA winners such as Ed Sanders, Native American writer, LeAnn Howe, media pundit and activist, Dan Savage, writer/actress Amy Sedaris, along with continued service to emerging writers, members Salons, Critics Circles and area students.

WordSpace was the first literary organization in Texas to highlight the significance of songwriters and musicians, especially native Texas singer/songwriters, as an integral part of “imaginative language.”

Our Board of Directors are working writers and educators, with extensive national and international professional and artistic network ties. Each season, we feature approximately 60 writers and work with over a dozen partners in city-wide venues.

In response to the demand for our services, we founded an office in Oak Cliff’s Tyler-Davis/Bishop Arts District which serves as a meeting space as well as a venue and a hub for our budding intern program. WordSpace is an open door to writers, artists, educators, community leaders and urban youth.

We remain devoted to Robert Trammell’s programming perspectives highlighting contemporary thought, human rights values and sustainable environment through all genre-representation. Multicultural diversity, explorations in imaginative language, and interdisciplinary cross pollination has characterized WordSpace programming from the start.

As WordSpace completes its second decade of consecutive programming, we look forward to continuing to provide Dallas with a broad array of programs and a strong presence in the city’s ongoing cultural life.