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Marianne Combs

At 40, the Loft celebrates its past, looks to future

The Loft's first location in Dinkytown
The Loft's first location was in a bookstore in Dinkytown, near the University of Minnesota. The organization moved around town before settling into the Open Book Building on Washington Avenue.
Courtesy of The Loft Literary Center

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The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis is celebrating its 40th anniversary with an unusual event. It's called 40 for 40, and features 40 different activities across the Twin Cities over the course of 40 hours.

The Loft, a resource for writers, offers classes, workshops, one-on-one critiques — basically everything a person needs to transform an idea into a compelling story.

The Loft's current location in Open Book
The Loft is currently located in Open Book in Minneapolis.
Courtesy of The Loft Literary Center

It's located in Open Book in Minneapolis, which is also home to the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the publishing house Milkweed Editions. But 40 years ago it started out in the upstairs of a Dinkytown bookstore run by Marly Rusoff. She created a simple gathering space for writers like Robert Bly, Patricia Hampl and Garrison Keillor.

Over the years The Loft has grown into one of the nation's largest literary centers. It's helped launch the careers of numerous authors, and its presence is a key reason for the Twin Cities' reputation as a literary oasis.

Today, the organization offers classes for writers of any age or ability.

"In class I've had students who have yet to put words to paper, and students who've written a couple of books already," said Kate St. Vincent Vogl, who has led courses at The Loft. "I've taught 9-year-olds who fill pages and pages of notebooks with ideas. I've taught 49-year-olds who freeze at the thought of starting the story they've dreamt of writing for so many years."

The Loft's anniversary coincides with a transition to new leadership. Director Jocelyn Hale is stepping down; replacing her is Macalester grad Britt Udesen, 40, who comes from The Cabin, a literary arts center in Boise, Idaho.

Most of the anniversary events are of a literary nature. There are book groups, poetry readings and a bike tour that stops at all of the Loft's various addresses over the years. And there's a chance to go bowling with local poet Bao Phi.

It all ends with a big party at The Loft on Saturday night.

If you go: The Loft 40 for 40

The full event schedule is available online from The Loft. Many events are free; some require tickets.

We made it home to Open Book. Yay! #loft40for40 rides on with donuts and coffee!

A photo posted by Loft Literary Center (@loftliterarycenter) on Aug 21, 2015 at 8:06am PDT