National Book Award winner Nikky Finney wrote Rice (1995), her second book of poetry, in these Carnegie cubbies in the early 1990s. She said, “I believe that public spaces should also have at their heart a sort of intimacy. I found here the intimacy of the imagination, the intimacy of books.”
The cubbies at the Carnegie Center are semi-private spaces for writers. They are located along the walls of the Arnow Reading Room, where we host our extensive collection of free books. Each cubby is roughly the size of a small office. Only staff and cubby renters are permitted to access the area where cubbies are located.
Who would benefit from a writer cubby?
Cubbies can benefit any writer in need of a dedicated quiet space for their craft.
How much do writer cubbies cost? When can I use my cubby?
The cubbies cost $50 per month, with payments due at the beginning of each month. Rentals for these cubbies are offered on a month-to-month basis.
Your cubby will be available to you during the Carnegie Center’s regular open hours. Unless there are scheduling variations in a given week, the cubby will be available M-Th 10:30am-7:30pm and F 11am-7:30pm.
What is provided in the writer cubby? Can I decorate?
Each cubby has an overhead light, as well as a desk, which is built into the wall.
Renters are welcome to furnish and decorate their cubbies as they see fit, as long as these belongings (1) remain within the footprint of the cubby and (2) are appropriate and respectful. Anything being affixed to the wall should be hung with non-damaging Command strips.
If you are interested in renting a cubby, send an email. We can answer any questions you might have and schedule a tour.
