Lit Orgs
Literary OrganizationThe Loop, ChicagoAmerican Writers Museum
As one of the most unique Chicago museums downtown, our mission is to celebrate the enduring influence of American writers on our history, identity, culture, and daily lives. American writing is distinctive, diverse, and comes in many forms from across the nation. As the only museum devoted to American writers and their works, AWM connects visitors with their favorite authors and writings from more than five centuries, while inspiring the discovery of new works of every type – poetry, lyrics, speeches, drama, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, and more. The authors and works we present are not meant to be a definitive list of who is the greatest or most influential. Instead, we present authors and works as part of a continuum that will grow and change. We hope you will visit us often to see what authors and works come next! The American Writers Museum owes its existence to the vision, passion and tenacity of its founder, Malcolm O’Hagan. We are forever indebted to Malcolm for his generosity and his enduring belief that America’s great writers deserve a home all their own.
Literary OrganizationPhiladelphia, PABlue Stoop
Blue Stoop nurtures an inclusive literary community by creating pathways to access writing education, inspiration, and professional support, and celebrating Philadelphia’s rich writing tradition. Blue Stoop envisions a radically inclusive literary community where Philadelphia readers and writers are thriving and supported.
- Literary OrganizationMarlton, NJ
Bookishly Busy
A literary organization bringing readers, writers, and stories together.
- Literary OrganizationWinston-Salem, NC
Bookmarks
A literary organization bringing readers, writers, and stories together.
- Literary OrganizationBoston, MA
Boston Comic Arts Foundation
A literary organization bringing readers, writers, and stories together.
Literary OrganizationNo fixed locationChicago Humanities
Culture, creativity, and connection, shared through events and experiences you won't find anywhere else in Chicago. At Chicago Humanities, we connect people to the ideas that shape and define us, and promote the lifelong exploration of what it means to be human. We bring the world to Chicago while elevating Chicago on behalf of its citizens. We share and shape culture through one-of-a-kind content. Welcoming leading figures from across disciplines and professions, we take our audiences beyond the headlines, exploring civic and cultural concerns and new ideas in pursuit of fresh perspectives that transcend personal experience. We fuel creativity through inventive formats, frameworks, and programming that explores human ingenuity. Uniting art and science, technology and policy, literature and media, politics, and more, we bring a world of creativity and insight to Chicago stages while elevating and celebrating talent unique to the city we call home. We cultivate connection through social gatherings and stimulating conversations. Giving audience members direct access to presenters, performers, and each other, we provide rich opportunities for fun, casual interaction before, during, and after events.
Literary OrganizationNo fixed locationChicago Literary Salon
An upscale ticketed literary salon series with drinks, conversation and intimate settings with some of today's hottest authors.
Literary OrganizationLake View, ChicagoChicago Review of Books
The Chicago Review of Books is a publication of StoryStudio Chicago dedicated to making the literary conversation more inclusive by covering diverse genres, presses, voices, and mediums; shining a light on Chicago’s literary scene; and serving as a forum for literature in the Midwest. In partnership with Yale Climate Connections, we covered the latest trends in climate fiction via Amy Brady’s “Burning Worlds” column from 2017-2021. Our sister publication Arcturus publishes original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Our logo was designed by Chicago’s own Tiny Bold Creative from a concept by Erin Morgan. The owl’s name is Gwen.
Literary OrganizationChicago, ILFriends of American Writers
Since 1922, Friends of American Writers (FAW) has been a vibrant home for readers, writers, and champion supporters of the literary arts. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, our mission goes beyond bringing book lovers together—we actively invest in the stories, authors, and young readers who shape our cultural landscape. If you love diving into great books, engaging in lively literary discussions, or supporting emerging writing talent across the Midwest, we would love to invite you to join Friends of American Writers (FAW).
Literary OrganizationLake View, ChicagoGuild Literary Complex
The Guild Literary Complex is a 35-year-old grassroots literary arts organization creating performance-based events in and around the Chicagoland area. We partner and collaborate with other community groups on social and restorative justice issues, providing arts and advocacy programming for marginalized voices.
Literary OrganizationBuena Park, ChicagoHaymarket House
Haymarket House, the home of Haymarket Books, is rooted in Chicago’s rich history of resistance and ongoing struggles for liberation. We host political, cultural, literary, and community events in our several events spaces, kitchen, library, and garden. We are committed to uplifting the work of writers, artists, thinkers, activists, educators, and everyday folks in the struggle for a better world.
Literary OrganizationEvanston, ILHive Book Arts
Hive Center for the Book Arts is a place to learn and celebrate the book arts: paper making, printmaking, bookmaking, writing, and reading. We work to make the book arts available to everyone, and build community through these shared experiences. Though our home base is at 840 Custer in Evanston IL, our workshops, exhibitions, programs, and events are popping up all over the North Shore, Chicago, and online. Do join us!
Literary OrganizationPhiladelphia, PAMoonstone Arts Center
"Moonstone Arts Center began as Moonstone Readings at Robin’s Book Store. Although the bookstore closed in 2012, Larry’s connection to books and publishing created the opportunity to develop the Arts Center’s programs, which have brought writers into contact with each other and the reading public. Some notable Moonstone Arts Center programs were: The Celebration of Black Writing, which Moonstone presented for 18 years; The Paul Robeson Festival, presented for eight years; The Ink Programs (Philadelphia Ink, Women’s Ink, Children’s Ink, Red Ink, Poetry Ink) which remain ongoing. The Moonstone Arts Center strives to create a space where everyone has a voice. In recent years we have focused on poetry and history. (See detailed information about notable Moonstone Arts Center programs.) Among the many distinguished writers and historians that Moonstone has presented to Philadelphia audiences are two United States Poet Laureates: Daniel Hoffman and Rita Dove; as well as all the Philadelphia Poet Laureates. We featured Pete Seeger twice, as well as Amiri Baraka, Howard Zinn and Nelson George. Poets include Major Jackson, Gregory Pardlo, E. Ethelbert Miller, Stephen Dunn, Samuel R Delany, Tim Seibles, Gerald Stern and Afaa Michael Weaver."
- Literary OrganizationNewburyport, MA
Newburyport Literary Association
A literary organization bringing readers, writers, and stories together.
Literary OrganizationRiver North, ChicagoPoetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation transforms lives through the power of words. Our work aims to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry. The Poetry Foundation publishes POETRY magazine, the premier gathering space for poets and readers. The magazine publishes contemporary poetry and prose, primarily in English, and translations from contributors all over the world. A true Chicago institution, POETRY has been published in the city since its founding in 1912. The Poetry Foundation library is the Midwest’s only library dedicated to poetry. Visitors can access more than 40,000 volumes of poetry, experience audio and video recordings, and view exhibitions of poetry-related materials in our reading room. In addition to books, visitors will find writing activities, reading challenges, and art-making stations. The Poetry Foundation hosts free events in its performance space and the Chicago community, often with the opportunity to attend remotely. Events include poetry readings, musical performances, artist collaborations, literary festivals, staged plays, and more.