KWH-affiliated student activities

Bent Button Productions

Bent Button Productions is a student-driven community at the University of Pennsylvania developed in order to learn, practice, and teach all aspects of film production. We are writers, actors, cinematographers, and editors. Our process begins with an idea and ends with an audience, encompassing three stages: screenwriting, filming, and editing. Our weekly meetings are a space for creativity and collaboration, and a showcase for student work.

The Body Electric is an inclusive space of cool people who like poetry. We span all years, all majors, all interests, and all identities. We love to share our poetry with each other in super chill, low stress workshop sessions. Come if you write poems, read poems, like poems, or want to know more about poems!

Circle is an open artist collective that meets weekly in the Kelly Writers House. Anyone who is interested in art or creates art across any medium can come and join.
What does Circle do:

Discuss art (& its intersections with philosophy a lot!), what we’re making
Make things together
Host field trips and fun events like pasta dinners, art gallery hopping in NYC, visiting local art galleries, etc.
Host student art exhibitions and movie nights

This is a generative and discussion writing group for prospective science fiction, horror, and fantasy writers. If you are a writer of speculative fiction or your writing has a speculative element, you will fit in. Everyone is welcome. We are a pressure free zone. This is not a critique group. Yet, if you want to meet other writers or advanced your writing, we are the group for you.

DoubleSpeak is the University of Pennsylvania’s only journal for literary translation and the only literary translation journal in the country run by undergraduate students. Founded over a decade ago, our annual (print and online) journal celebrates a range of languages and cultures through thoughtful curation of poets across centuries and around the world. We publish translations of poems both little-known and internationally beloved, from a profound variety of languages and dialects. No prior foreign language or translation experience is required. We welcome students of all backgrounds and experiences who have a love for literature, language, and community!

The Excelano Project is the University of Pennsylvania’s first and premiere spoken word group. Performing on campus and having competed at the national level, The Excelano Project has made a name for itself. In 2007 and in 2009 we had the pleasure of taking home the College Union’s Poetry Slam Invitational title. Our poets have been featured at the White House, on HBO, at the famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe, on Broadway, and all around the world. But EP goes beyond the poetry; we are a family. This group is about finding voice. Excelano centers and celebrates the voices of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ poets!

The Kelly Writers House Fiber Arts Circle is an intentional space for students and community members to share, learn, and feel supported in their fiber arts practices (no experience necessary!). Knitters, crocheters, weavers, macrame artists, needlepointers, cross-stitchers, etc. - all are welcome.

The F-Word is a feminist literary magazine that publishes biannually. We define feminism as the demand for the equality of all people, regardless of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or religion. We believe that feminist art can be a powerful driver of positive social, political, and cultural change. We aim to provide a platform for women, queer people, people of color, and other ethnic and religious minorities to share their voices with the world. We accept submissions for our print magazine on a rolling basis, publishing in the fall and spring. We also accept pitches for our blog at any time.

The Moviegoer is the University of Pennsylvania's only film and media criticism publication. We are a student-run blog dedicated to providing insightful coverage of popular culture.

Penn Appétit is for anything and everything related to food. Through the year, we publish eye-catching magazines, host events with high profile restaurateurs, and trek through Philly and beyond for the greatest food finds. Be a part of our magazine by being a writer, photographer, designer, or recipe developer! If you want more hands-on experiences, you can help us plan a new host of events, establish relations within the food industry, run our food blog, or volunteer directly in the Philly community, to name a few.

Founded in 1951, The Penn Review is the oldest continuously published literary magazine at the University of Pennsylvania. Devoted to the literary and visual arts, we publish original poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual artwork, and feature a blend of emerging and established voices in our biannual print and online publication. In our seven-decade history, we’ve published works by William Carlos Williams, Allen Ginsberg, e. e. cummings, and Jennifer Egan, among others. The Penn Review welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more an participating in the creation of a lit mag. No experience is necessary in order to join.

t-art magazine is a multidisciplinary, student-run publication that explores the intersection of art, technology, and culture. Based at the University of Pennsylvania, t-art brings together artists, designers, and innovators within the Philadelphia community and beyond. In addition to our digital and print publication, we provide unique opportunities on and off campus by organizing exhibitions and group visits to artist studios, galleries, and other creative spaces.

The KWH Zine Library is located on the second floor of the Writers House. Started in 2017, the collection has grown to include zines from all over and from all kinds of creators, with a special focus on Philly zines and, this summer, on zines by Black creators. Apart from curating, we also host workshops about once a semester and fund student zine proposals.
Digital Zine about the Zine Library: Read PDF!