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Literary Arts Institute

The Literary Arts Institute (LAI) is a natural outgrowth of Saint Ben's enduring commitment to creativity and the arts. Writing is central to the liberal arts, and creative writing in particular has flourished at the College since its founding. The LAI was established in 1997 to augment Saint Benedict's tradition of supporting writing in all its forms, to forge connections to publishing on a local and national level, and to promote interactions between students and writers.

Signature Programs

The LAI brings nationally-recognized authors to the College through Writers Writing, promotes literary events, holds summer conferences such as Inside Books, supports publications through the Sister Mariella Gable Book Award, and encourages the artistry of fine letterpress in the Welle Book Arts Studio. On the strength of innovative partnerships with Graywolf Press and others, the LAI is able to bring writers together with readers on campus, in the Twin Cities, and beyond.

These partnerships extend beyond the borders of Minnesota and the United States, as the LAI partners with the Office for Education Abroad to bring CSB/SJU students together with writers from their host countries.  In recent years, these writers have included Zoe Wicomb in South Africa, Mitsuyo Kakuta in Japan, Amitav Ghosh in India, Geoff Dyer in England, Alberto Fuguet in Chile, and Jeff O'Connell in Ireland.  The LAI seeks to provide CSB/SJU students on the seventeen semester long study abroad programs with such an opportunity to experience their host country's culture though literature.