American Writers Festival
The inaugural American Writers Festival on May 15, 2022 in Chicago coincides with the American Writers Museum’s fifth anniversary. The free public event will be held at Four Stages inside the Chicago Cultural Center and One Stage at the American Writers Museum, and feature more than 75 beloved contemporary authors, artists and playwrights. Participating writers will address their perspectives on many of today’s most timely and controversial topics including immigration, book censorship, racism and equality through themes within their literature. See the full schedule here.
As a special bonus, the AWM will waive museum admission fees on Sunday, May 15 and Monday, May 16 – AWM’s fifth anniversary – to encourage more people to experience the literary works of the greatest American writers.
In light of current health issues around the world, festival organizers will strive to make this a safe in-person event for all our visitors and participants. Proof of vaccination and masks are required to enter the American Writers Museum and all event spaces at the Chicago Cultural Center. We also have plans in place to move forward no matter what, and to shift the focus from in-person to online if and where necessary in any way.
Please send me info on this event.
Hi Tom,
We’ve added your email address to our mailing list so you will get the most up-to-date information about the Festival. You can also look at the Festival page in the meantime. Looking forward to seeing you there!
-Ari Bachechi, Assistant Director, Operations & Exhibits
I’m assuming that this event with David W. Blight will be a so-called hybrid event. Unfortunately, I cannot make it to Chicago; how may I participate otherwise?
On Zoom? I’m pretty much a Luddite.
Hi Adrienne,
The David Blight event will only be in person. We currently have 2 virtual events scheduled, which you can see on our full schedule page. Unless specified as virtual, all events will be in person.
Select programs will be recorded and made available to watch later on the AWM’s YouTube channel. You can subscribe to be notified when new videos are added.
-Ari Bachechi, Assistant Director, Operations & Exhibits
Dear Ari Bachechi,
Thank you so much for the exceptional courtesy of your reply. I have now called the museum and been told that this particular event will be recorded and will eventually be happily available for viewing later. And I am urging a friend resident in Chicago to attend this event with David Blight, and to hang around for any meet and greet opportunities afterward; as he is an extraordinarily affable and approachable person to encounter, as well as being an exceptional scholar and writer and speaker, and, as he always styles himself, teacher first.
And again, I cannot thank you enough for the extreme – and in today’s world, unheard of – courtesy of your reply.
Most sincerely,
Adrienne Van Dyk
Hello,
Will Aaron Sorkin have some kind of event as I see him listed as a guest.
Hi Caitlin,
Yes! We are so excited that Mr. Sorkin joined the line up as a virtual guest. The program will be aired on our YouTube page at 12 pm CT on Sunday. Check back to the full schedule page soon to find his event under the virtual programs section.
-Ari Bachechi, Assistant Director, Operations & Exhibits