"Yes, we had our travails. As in much of the country, libraries faced hurdles both fiscal and philosophical in the form of budget shortfalls and book challenges. A flagging economy hurt bookstores, including the monolithic Powell's Books, which suffered a series of staff cuts. Orders by the Trump Administration that cut grants and fellowships affected local writers. But generally, in the words of a former state slogan, things look different here."
"Oregon writers Willy Vlautin and Omar El Akkad won prestigious awards, with El Akkad taking home the National Book Award in Nonfiction. A visit by a poet was the largest public event hosted by the Sitka Center for Art + Ecology. And more than 8,500 people - a sellout crowd - attended the Portland Book Festival, on a sunny day in November. Nothing says reading is alive and well like long lines of readers, arms overflowing with volumes, waiting in bookseller queues."
Oregon's literary community showed resilience and energy in 2025 despite national headwinds. Libraries contended with budget shortfalls and book challenges while a flagging economy forced staff cuts at major bookstores, including Powell's. Federal orders that reduced grants and fellowships also affected local writers. At the same time, Oregon writers won major prizes, high-profile public events drew record attendance, and the Portland Book Festival sold out with more than 8,500 attendees. State and local awards recognized a range of authors across fiction, poetry, nonfiction, children's and young adult literature, and drama, signaling sustained regional literary vitality.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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