The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and Art Exchange will co-host the nationally touring queer and feminist spoken word showcase Sister Spit on Saturday, March 11 at Art Exchange’s newly renovated East Village facility. This event will be the sixth annual tour stop hosted by The Center and the first co-hosted with Art Exchange and continues to be free to attend.

“We are thrilled to partner with The Center to host this vibrant and dynamic arts program in our community,” says Art Exchange’s Executive Director Jay Hong. “Co-hosting Sister Spit is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our beautifully renovated space and resident artists and we look forward to welcoming several hundred attendees this year.”

Founded by award-winning author Michelle Tea in the 1990s, Sister Spit features queer and queer-inspired writers, artists, and poets. The tour was relaunched in 2007 and features a revolving roster of established and emerging LGBTQ and allied authors, poets, and mixed media artists. Produced by the Bay Area non-profit organization, RADAR Productions, Sister Spit 2017 includes seven touring artists offering a critical, intersectional and humorous lens to feminism, race, size, class, identity, technology, gender and sexuality.

2017’s lineup will feature Riverside-based poet and author Joshua Jennifer Espinoza (There Should Be Flowers), Contributing editor for Foglifter Journal and organizer Celeste Chan, multi-genre musician and dancer Maya Songbird, nationally recognized author, activist, and Long Beach fan favorite Virgie Tovar, New York based performer and writer Cathy de la Cruz (Funny Feminism columnist in Weird Sister), RADAR Productions Executive Director and 2014 Jackson Literary Award Recipient Juliana Delgado Lopera, and Oakland based poet and performer Denise Benavides (Writing Through Bipolar in Sixteen Steps and split). In addition to Sister Spit’s nationally touring artists, local authors yet to be announced will also participate in the showcase.

In addition to the performance, Art Exchange’s resident studio artists will open their adjacent spaces to the community. All studio artists work synergistically with the organization to promote local artists, collaborate on local arts efforts, and showcase and offer their works for sale to the community. Additionally, over one dozen local organizations will also table at the event to connect with attendees and share information on resources and engagement with the community.

“Sister Spit is a staple LGBTQ arts program in Long Beach and The Center is always honored to co-host,” says The Center’s Executive Director Porter Gilberg. “As one of the only queer arts events in the City, this event is a tremendous opportunity to witness some of the best and brightest emerging performers in the United States.”

Sister Spit will take place Saturday March 11, 2017 at 7:00pm at Art Exchange (356 E. 3^rd Street Long Beach, CA 90802). The event is free and open to everyone.