PEN Center USA
A Human Rights & Literary Arts Organization | |
| Formation | 1943 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit, literary society, human rights campaigning |
| Legal status | Association |
| Purpose | Advocacy, programs, events |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| Location | |
Region served | Western half of USA |
Official language | English |
Executive Director | Michelle Franke |
Key people | Board of Directors |
Main organ | PEN America |
Parent organization | International PEN |
| Website | penusa |
Formerly called | PEN Center USA |
PEN Center USA was a branch of PEN International, a literary and human rights organization. It was one of two PEN International Centers in the United States, the other being PEN America in New York City. On March 1, 2018, PEN Center USA unified under the PEN America umbrella as the PEN America Los Angeles office. PEN Center USA was founded in 1943 and incorporated as a nonprofit association in 1981. As of 2018, much of PEN Center USA's programming continues out of the PEN America Los Angeles office, including the Emerging Voices Fellowship, PEN In the Community writing residencies and guest speaker program, and the PEN Presents conversation series.