Lit Youngstown moves its First Wednesday Readers Series events to Westside Bowl starting in May.

The series was held for the last six years at Soap Gallery, which is closing Friday after eight years in downtown Youngstown.

According to Lit Youngstown Director Karen Schubert, “We are so grateful to the Soap Gallery for hosting us. We have many memories of readings in this richly artistic space. We look forward to being at the Westside Bowl, also fun, funky and arts-rich.”

The first program at its new home will feature poets Richard Ferris and B. Elizabeth Beck.

Beck is a Canfield native now living in Lexington, Ky. She is author of “Summer Tour Trilogy” and four collections of poetry. Beck also is the founder of the Teen Howl Poetry Series that serves the youth of central Kentucky.

Ferris is a poet, artist, traveler and lifelong Clevelander.

The reading starts 7 p.m. Wednesday in the trophy room at Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, and will be followed by an open mic co-hosted by R.W. Franklin.

Admission is free, and the event is made possible by the Youngstown Foundation. For more information, go to www.LitYoungstown.org.