Photo courtesy of City of Asylum

From L to R: Henry Reese, co-founder COA/Pittsburgh; Mayor Bill Peduto;  COA/Las Vegas director Joshua Shenk; Asst. Director COA Silvia Duarte; ICORN Director Helge Lunde; and Diane Samuels, co-founder, COA.

City of Asylum/Pittsburgh was recently named the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) new national headquarters by ICORN Director Helge Lunde, during the recent House Tour & Wine Tasting.

City of Asylum/Pittsburgh will work with the other American Cities of Asylum in Las Vegas, Nevada and Ithaca, New York to coordinate the efforts of the three American City of Asylum writer sanctuary programs. In addition, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh will act as a global model for how to use the arts to build communities and foster cross-cultural exchange. The plan is to better serve at-risk writers and grow the program across the United States, according to a press release.

Mayor Bill Peduto attended the house tour and spoke on the importance of welcoming those in need.

“I’m sure you know we’re on the right side of history in what you’re doing,” Peduto said while addressing the crowd during the tour. “…Of being part of a global initiative in helping people.”

City of Asylum is also in the process of converting the former Masonic Building along W North Avenue in to a Alphabet City, multi-purpose art space.