Bel Canto Literary Arts

Stories have the power to bring us together.

Bel Canto Literary Arts (BCLA) celebrates the vibrant storytelling of the Global Majority through literature, arts, and advocacy in Long Beach, California, and beyond. We create spaces where writers, artists, and communities can share stories, discover one another, and imagine what’s possible.

Through literary festivals, workshops and classes, community gatherings, and artist collectives, BCLA supports writers and artists—especially those from communities historically underrepresented in literature—with a special emphasis on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices.

Our work comes to life through programs including Liwanag Lit Fest, a celebration of Filipino American books, writers, and culture, and FAB Long Beach, which brings AAPI writers and readers together to celebrate literature, identity, and community.

When you support Bel Canto Literary Arts, you help make room for more stories, more artists, and more opportunities for people to see their experiences reflected in the literature and culture of our community.

Your gift helps Long Beach remain a place where stories from every community can be told, heard, and celebrated.

$25 — Share a Story

Put a free book into the hands of a child at Liwanag Lit Fest or FAB Long Beach, helping young readers discover the joy of seeing themselves—and new worlds—in books.

$50 — Spark a Love of Reading

Help provide free books and creative experiences that introduce children and families to new authors, new ideas, and the joy of reading together.

$100 — Bring an Author to Long Beach

Help provide stipends that make it possible for writers to participate in our literary festivals, ensuring that authors’ time, talent, and stories are valued.

$250 — Lift Up a New Voice

Support the Bel Canto AAPI Writers Prize, celebrating and investing in emerging AAPI authors whose stories deserve to be discovered and shared.

$500 — Build a Creative Community

Help create welcoming gatherings where readers, writers, and artists come together to spark creativity, build connections, and cultivate a lifelong love of reading.