Initiative supported by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Chicago, Illinois (March 19, 2025) — The American Writers Museum (AWM) is excited to announce its new special exhibit and programming series, American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture, supported by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
A groundbreaking AWM content initiative, American Prophets journeys through the pages of
American history and both real and fictionalized spiritual practices to explore the profound ways
writing reflects and influences our understanding of religion. An immersive exhibit opening at the museum in November 2025 will showcase rare artifacts, interactive displays, and related creative works spanning literature, film, music, comedy, and more. AWM invites visitors to discover how storytelling serves as a powerful lens for examining belief systems, personal identity, and the ever-evolving relationship between religion and American culture.
Along with a variety of interactives, the exhibit will include a selection of unique objects of religious significance to writers that can be tied to their works. Examples include Flannery O’Connor’s rosary, Ursula K. Le Guin’s annotated copy of the Tao Te Ching, Samira Ahmed’s amulet with a Muslim prayer, Louie Pérez’s statue of the Santo Niño de Atocha, Harold Ramis’ pocket-sized primer The Five-Minute Buddhist, and more.
The content of the American Prophets exhibit will span countless religions and faiths, including, but
not limited to, Agnosticism, Atheism, Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Humanism,
Indigenous spiritualities, Islam, Judaism, Scientology, and Taoism. More details on the writers and
works featured in the exhibit will be announced later this year.
“Because religion is a central theme in American literature, with so many writers influenced by their own and others’ religion or faith, we must explore religion to remain true to our mission,” says AWM President Carey Cranston. Cranston further emphasized the importance of showcasing the interconnectedness of beliefs through the words of great writers.
AWM kicked off its programming for American Prophets with “Making New Gods,” a free event in
partnership with the Chicago Public Library on April 22 at the Harold Washington Library Center.
Acclaimed and bestselling fiction authors N.K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Nghi Vo, and Matthew Kirby
spoke about how they explore religious beliefs in their speculative fiction, drawing from personal
traditions and invented theologies, and the influence of faith on their writing.
American Prophets programming includes public events with authors spanning genres that will be presented throughout this year into early 2026, field trip curriculum for students from elementary to high school, podcasts, and additional online content. For more information, stay tuned to AmericanWritersMuseum.org.
AWM’s American Prophets initiative also includes a touring version of the special exhibit Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice, which originally premiered at the museum in 2022. Inspired by a poem from a 20th-century human rights activist, legal scholar, feminist, author, poet, Episcopal priest, labor organizer, and multiracial Black, LGBTQ+ community member Pauli Murray, this exhibit explores the enduring impact of Black writers from the end of the Civil War through the Civil Rights era. Currently on view at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Dark Testament brings these powerful stories to life through art, multimedia, augmented reality, and interactive elements.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN WRITERS MUSEUM
The American Writers Museum is the first museum of its kind in the United States. The mission of
the American Writers Museum is to excite audiences about the impact of American writers — past,
present and future — in shaping our collective histories, cultures, identities, and daily lives. The
museum is located at 180 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601, and offers something for every age
group including permanent exhibits and special galleries highlighting America’s favorite works and
the authors behind them. Tickets to the museum are $16 for adults, $10 for seniors, students, and
teachers. Free for members and children ages 12 and under. To inquire about discounted rates for
groups of 10 or more, including adults, student travel groups, and University students, visit
AmericanWritersMuseum.org/visit/groups/ or call 312-374-8765. Museum hours are Monday,
Thursday—Sunday, 10 AM—5 PM. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information visit
AmericanWritersMuseum.org or call 312-374-8790. Follow AWM on Facebook, X, Instagram and
YouTube.
ABOUT LILLY ENDOWMENT INC.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr.
and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and
Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate
entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and
religion. Although the Endowment maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown,
Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana, it also funds programs throughout the United States,
especially in the field of religion. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to
deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and
supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay
leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of
diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in
the United States and across the globe.