OUR MISSION

OUR MISSION is to seek out, study, and collect the work of early and contemporary writers, storytellers, and artists, and to publish, disseminate, and present that work through publications and educational and public programs for the larger community.

OUR HISTORY

BRIGHT HILL PRESS WAS FOUNDED IN 1992 BY BERTHA ROGERS, WITH ERNEST M. FISHMAN, WHO LATER BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION.
Our programs serve residents in New York’s Catskill Mountain region, greater New York, and throughout the U.S. Board members in 2010 include Ernest M. Fishman, Treadwell, President and Treasurer; Ron Guichard, Andes, Vice-President; Lynn Shepard, Treadwell, Secretary; Karen Detert, West Delhi, Director; Vicki Davis, Franklin, Director; Sue King, Walton, Director; Dianne Benko, Delhi; and Bertha Rogers, Treadwell/Delhi, Executive Director.

WHO WE ARE

BRIGHT HILL PRESS is an independent, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit coporation governed by a Board of Directors representing the community the organization serves, and an Advisory Board from the larger community. Donations are tax-deductible, to the full extent of the law.

BRIGHT HILL is dedicated to increasing audiences’ appreciation of the writing arts and oral traditions that comprise American literature, and to encouraging and furthering the tradition of oral poetry and writing in the Catskills and beyond. Writers and artists who participate in Bright Hill Press/Word Thursdays programs are selected for their artistic excellence, their ability and willingness to work within a community setting, and the diversity of their backgrounds, genres, and styles. BHP understands that recognition of the need for a literary community and a commitment to lifelong learning are critical aspects of audience development; our programs for children and adults engender the spirit, craft, and imagination that makes this possible.

PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND INCLUDE:

  • 
Word Thursdays, the Catskill reading series;
  • 
Bright Hill Press publications;
  • 
LitTree- The Literary Map of New York State and the print version of the Literary Map;

  • Bright Hill Community Library & Internet Wing, a  humanities library for the community with Internet access;

  • Word & Image Gallery for works that integrate language and visual art;
  • 
Radio by Writers, innovative literary programming for the Catskills;
  • 
Share the Words High-School Poetry Competition & Mentoring Program;
  • 
Word Thursdays Winter & Summer Literary Workshops for Kids and Teens;
  • 
Word Thursdays Workshops for Adults;
  • 
Word Thursdays Internship Program for College, High-School, & Middle-School Students;
  • 
The Big Read, co-sponsored with Foothills Performing Arts, Oneonta;
  • 
The Great Cultural Spelling Bee, co-sponsored with Roxbury Arts Group, Roxbury



Bright Hill Press is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; and by the A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Foundation; the Walter Rich Charitable Foundation; the Delaware County Youth Bureau, under the auspces of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services; the A. C. Molinari Foundation; the Tianaderrah Foundation; the Dewar Foundation; the Otis A. Thompson Foundation; Stewart’s Shops; and by its members and friends.

Bright Hill Center is located at 94 Church Street, a block north of the old Barlow’s General Store and includes the Bright Hill Free Library & Internet Wing and the Education Wing, in which adult and children’s literary and visual arts workshops are regularly conducted. For details and for information about Bright Hill Press and its programs, contact Bright Hill Center at 607-829-5055 or email the Center at info@brighthillpress.org.

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