Unbound Reading Series
An annual reading series that highlights Black writers of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
Unbound is a growing collective that makes space for Black creative voices. Founded by Hope Lauterbach in 2020, and hosted by Harrison Mooney, the Unbound Reading Series produces literary events that feature emerging and established Black authors and poets.
Photos by David Markwei
Past Events
Black Futures Open Mic, Neworld Theatre, February 2024
Let It Go Book Celebration, Wildfires Bookshop, January 2024
Unbound Reading Series: Summer Open Mic, Neworld Theatre, July 2023
Black Futures Open Mic, Neworld Theatre, February 2023
Unbound Reading Series: Affirmations, Massy Arts Society, October 2022
Unbound Reading Series: Housewarming, Shadbolt Centre For the Arts, November 2021
Unbound Reading Series: Sowing Stars, Old Crow Coffee Co., October 2020
Listen to Unbound Reading Series founder Hope Lauterbach on Writing the Coast: BC & Yukon Book Prizes Podcast
In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Hope Lauterbach. In their conversation, Hope talks about creating a space that honours and creates community around black storytelling, and writing. She also talks about what inspired the Unbound Reading Series.
Friends of Unbound
Neworld Theatre
Neworld Theatre creates, produces, and tours new plays, performance events and digital works. Their work centers stories and perspectives that challenge systems of oppression. Their motto is ‘plays well with others’ which means that collaboration and working across perceptions of difference are vital to the way they work. They deliver community-engaged programs and are at the forefront of developing cultural infrastructure and sectoral capacity in Vancouver and across the country.
Neworld Theatre co-produces Unbound’s events and is a frequent venue for the reading series.
Rise Up Marketplace
Room Magazine
Room is proud to work with Unbound to secure funding, coordinate events, and reach writers for the Reading Series.
Wildfires Bookshop
Wildfires Bookshop curates books that bring both historically and presently excluded voices and stories to the forefront. We offer a selection that encourages critically examining and resisting the singular visions and binaries that the status quo enforces with the hopes of making it possible for us all to be part of constructing a world that centres justice, care, and joy.
Wildfires Books can frequently be found with a great selection of Black-authored books at Unbound events, and sometimes co-produces and is a venue for Unbound events.
Unbound Community Care: An Interview with Hope Lauterbach by Lexi Mellish Mingo
“When I think of Unbound, it’s freedom. Unbound, like a book that has unbound pages, or the kind of scattered, sort of messy creativity. And then unbound imagination. If our imaginations are unbound, what can we achieve? What can we achieve together?”