Richard Hugo House

Richard Hugo House, commonly known as Hugo House, is a nonprofit community writing center and literary arts organization in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 1997 by writers Linda Jaech, Frances McCue, and Andrea Lewis, who identified a need for a dedicated place where Seattle writers and readers could meet, study, share work, and develop new literary projects. The organization was named for Richard Hugo, the Seattle-born poet and creative-writing teacher whose work often focused on overlooked people, neighborhoods, and places. Hugo House operates as a community-oriented literary institution rather than as a conventional commercial publisher or education company. Its activities combine writing instruction, public programming, youth engagement, performance, fellowships, residencies, and support for works in development. Its classes serve adult writers as well as young people, while its events create opportunities for readings, open-mic performances, conversations about craft, and interaction among established and emerging authors. The organization’s programming has helped position it as a visible gathering place for Seattle’s literary community. During the 2000s, Program Director Brian McGuigan introduced several programs that became associated with the organization’s informal and accessible approach to literary culture. These included Cheap Wine and Poetry, launched in 2005, and Cheap Beer and Prose, launched in 2008. Hugo House also developed the Made at Hugo House fellowship, which provides a structured setting for literary work. Other continuing or recurring programs have included Hugo Writing Classes, Hugo Classes for Youth, Stage Fright Teen Open Mic, Hugo Works in Progress, the Hugo Literary Series, Word Works: Writers on Writing, and Writers-in-Residence. The Zine Archive and Publishing Project was formerly operated as a Hugo House program before becoming independent. The organization’s physical identity has changed over time. Its first home was a 16,206-square-foot Victorian building constructed in 1902 on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Before Hugo House occupied it, the building had been associated with New City Theater and, earlier, the Bonney-Watson mortuary and funeral home. The facility contained administrative offices, an 88/150 theater, a cabaret stage and café, multipurpose rooms, a conference room, an art gallery, and private meeting areas. In June 2016, Hugo House moved temporarily to a site near the Frye Art Museum on First Hill while the original building was demolished and the property redeveloped. A new six-story mixed-use building opened as Hugo House’s permanent home in September 2018. Leadership has included Tree Swenson, who served as executive director from 2012 through 2020, and Rob Arnold, identified in the available reference material as interim executive director. Through its classes, performances, fellowships, and public events, Hugo House continues to serve Seattle’s writing ecosystem as an accessible literary center focused on participation, experimentation, and community-building.

Hugo House was established in Seattle in 1997 by Linda Jaech, Frances McCue, and Andrea Lewis. The founders were writers who believed that the city needed a dedicated literary center where local writers and readers could form a community and create new work. The institution took its name from Richard Hugo, a Seattle-born poet and creative-writing teacher known for writing about people and locations that were often neglected by mainstream cultural narratives. The organization developed as a nonprofit community writing center with a broad program model. Rather than focusing on a single literary genre or publishing activity, it brought together classes, readings, performances, youth programs, fellowships, residencies, and informal gatherings. During the 2000s, Program Director Brian McGuigan helped expand Hugo House’s programming. Cheap Wine and Poetry began in 2005, followed by Cheap Beer and Prose in 2008. These programs reflected the organization’s effort to make literary events social, approachable, and open to a wide range of participants. The Made at Hugo House fellowship was also created to support writers developing substantial new work. Hugo House’s first facility was a 16,206-square-foot Victorian house built in 1902 on Capitol Hill. Before becoming a literary center, the property had been used by New City Theater and, earlier, by Bonney-Watson as a mortuary and funeral home. As Hugo House, the building accommodated administrative offices and a mixture of public and private spaces, including an 88/150 theater, a cabaret stage and café, three multipurpose rooms, a conference room, an art gallery, and private meeting spaces. The building’s unusual history and flexible layout contributed to the organization’s distinctive identity as both a performance venue and a working home for writers. The site underwent a major transition in the 2010s. In June 2016, Hugo House moved to a temporary location adjacent to the Frye Art Museum on Seattle’s First Hill after the original Capitol Hill structure was razed. The property was redeveloped as part of a six-story mixed-use project. Beginning in September 2018, the new development served as Hugo House’s permanent home, allowing the organization to continue its literary and educational work in a purpose-built contemporary setting while remaining in Seattle. Leadership during this period included Tree Swenson, who was executive director from 2012 to 2020. Brian McGuigan, who had helped shape several of the organization’s 2000s programs, left in 2014. The available reference material identifies Rob Arnold as the interim executive director. Hugo House’s program portfolio has included Hugo Writing Classes, Hugo Classes for Youth, Stage Fright Teen Open Mic, Hugo Works in Progress, the Hugo Literary Series, Word Works: Writers on Writing, Writers-in-Residence, and the Made at Hugo House Fellowship. The Zine Archive and Publishing Project was previously a Hugo House program and later became independent. Across its history, Hugo House has functioned as a literary ecosystem rather than simply a venue. Its classes develop writing skills, its public events connect authors with audiences, and its fellowships and work-in-progress programs provide support for creative development. Its emphasis on community access and new work has made it a notable Seattle institution for writers, readers, students, and literary performers.

• 2020

  Tree Swenson’s executive-director tenure ends

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Tree Swenson completes her period as executive director after serving from 2012 to 2020.

• 2018

  Permanent home opens in redeveloped site

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  A six-story mixed-use building on the former site begins serving as Hugo House’s permanent home in September.

• 2016

  Temporary relocation to First Hill

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Hugo House moves to temporary premises next to the Frye Art Museum after its original Capitol Hill building is demolished.

• 2014

  Brian McGuigan leaves Hugo House

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Brian McGuigan, who developed several programs during the 2000s, departs the organization.

• 2012

  Tree Swenson becomes executive director

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Tree Swenson begins a term as executive director that continues through 2020.

• 2008

  Cheap Beer and Prose launches

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Hugo House adds Cheap Beer and Prose, extending its accessible social-literary programming.

• 2005

  Cheap Wine and Poetry launches

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Program Director Brian McGuigan introduces Cheap Wine and Poetry as part of Hugo House’s informal literary event programming.

• 1997

  Hugo House is founded

  [1]Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Linda Jaech, Frances McCue, and Andrea Lewis establish a Seattle nonprofit writing center intended to connect writers and readers and support the creation of new work.

An accessible, community-centered literary arts hub for writers and readers, combining education, public programming, youth engagement, performance, and support for new work.

• Adult literary education

  Hugo Writing Classes

  Hugo Writing Classes are the organization’s adult-oriented educational offering. They support writers working on creative projects and provide structured opportunities to study writing and develop craft within a literary-community setting.

• Youth literary education

  Hugo Classes for Youth

  Hugo Classes for Youth extend the writing center’s educational mission to younger participants. The program gives children and teenagers opportunities to practice writing and engage with literary creativity in a supportive community environment.

• Literary events

  Hugo Literary Series

  The Hugo Literary Series presents public literary programming that connects authors and readers. It represents Hugo House’s role as a venue for readings, conversations, and broader engagement with contemporary writing.

• Writing fellowship

  Made at Hugo House Fellowship

  The Made at Hugo House fellowship supports writers as they develop substantial new work. It reflects the organization’s emphasis on nurturing creative projects as well as offering classes and public events.

• Residency program

  Writers-in-Residence

  The Writers-in-Residence program provides a formal connection between selected writers and the Hugo House community, supporting the center’s role as a place for literary practice, exchange, and public participation.

• Youth performance

  Stage Fright Teen Open Mic

  Stage Fright Teen Open Mic gives teenage writers and performers a public platform. The program combines youth development with Hugo House’s broader commitment to live literary expression.

• Literary event · 2005

  Cheap Wine and Poetry

  Cheap Wine and Poetry was introduced in 2005 as an informal literary program associated with Hugo House’s effort to make poetry events social, welcoming, and accessible.

• Literary event · 2008

  Cheap Beer and Prose

  Cheap Beer and Prose was introduced in 2008 as a companion-style program focused on prose and an informal audience experience.

• Zine archive and publishing

  Zine Archive and Publishing Project

  The Zine Archive and Publishing Project was formerly operated as a Hugo House program. It later became an independent project, separating it from the organization’s current program portfolio.

• 2018

  Return to a permanent home in the redeveloped siteStrategy

  Background

  Following its temporary relocation, Hugo House needed a lasting facility for its classes, events, offices, and literary community.

  Action taken

  Hugo House began operating from the new six-story mixed-use building constructed on the former Capitol Hill property.

  Aftermath

  The organization resumed its long-term presence at the original site in a substantially redeveloped facility.

  Source

• 2016

  Temporary relocation during Capitol Hill redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Hugo House’s original Victorian facility was demolished as the property underwent redevelopment.

  Action taken

  The organization moved to temporary premises adjacent to the Frye Art Museum on First Hill while a new mixed-use building was constructed.

  Aftermath

  The redeveloped site became Hugo House’s permanent home in September 2018.

  Source

1. 1Hugo Houseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Richard Hugo House official websitehugohouse.org