There are many great literary events around Indianapolis and beyond. Looking for something to do? Here are just a few ideas:
Many events are virtual. Please confirm with venue for scheduled events. For most events listed, click the title to register or find out more.
Do you have an upcoming literary event? Send us the details at mail@indianawriters.org to be featured on our events blog.
Writers Guild Spoken Word Series
WEDNESDAY, FEB 3
6pm EST
Featuring authors Shannon Gibney & Ellen Birkett Morris, poet Jen Moore, & music from bassist Stephan Crump.
FREE and ONLINE.
TWO WAYS TO EXPERIENCE:
Drop a note here and we will send you the ZOOM link
OR
watch LIVE on the Writers Guild at Bloomington page.
Redacted History Month
Hoy Polloy Art Gallery
February 5th, 6-9 p.m.
Featuring Gnat Bowden and Justin Brown.
First Fridays Write-Ins with Speed City Sisters in Crime
February 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Free, Online via Zoom
Join your fellow Sisters in Crime (and brothers) and make some progress on your latest writing project this Friday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
This is how it will work:
You join the Zoom meeting at at 6:30 we will do some introductions. These might be a little shorter or longer depending on how many people join us.
Then we will do 3-5 20-minute writing sessions. I’ll set a timer and for the next 20 minutes you work on whatever project you brought to the write-in. At 20 minutes we take a quick break, maybe briefly share the progress we have made and then we do the next 20-minute writing interval and so on.
Why do this? It gives us a chance to do some concentrated writing with the support of our fellow writers. All are welcome to join in.
Black Women’s Writing Society
February 9th, 6 p.m.
Meets the Second Tuesday of every month
Online
Black women writers–Want to make space to write in 2021? Join Ebony Marie Chappel and me on the second Tuesday of every month for the Black Women’s Writing Society. Meetings include roughly 30 minutes of education, including opportunities to hear from fellow writers, followed by an hour of uninterrupted writing time. Featured guests this year, include Deesha Philyaw, Paula Ashe, Faith Adiele, Patrice Grell Yursik, A’Lelia Bundles, Rochelle Riley and others. We’ll also introduce a new opportunity for three writers with 2021 projects to join us in an exclusive writing cohort.
Find out more and connect with BWWS.
Tuesdays with Morrie – Virtual Book Club
February 16, 6-7 p.m. via Zoom
Hosted by Indiana Repertory Theatre
Join Indiana Repertory Theatre’s Dramaturg Richard J Roberts on February 16 for a free discussion about Mitch Albom’s beloved book and the IRT’s production of Tuesdays with Morrie! IRT’s February virtual production brings to life this story of mentorship, hope, and the friendship between Morrie and Mitch as they discover life’s greatest lesson. Richard will lead the group in a conversation about the book, the stage adaptation, and more. Read the book—and see the show, if possible—ahead of the conversation!
To attend this free book club discussion, please RSVP to Elizabeth Petermann at epetermann@irtlive.com by February 15, 2021. We will send the Zoom information before the event.
To purchase tickets to IRT’s virtual production of Tuesdays with Morrie, streaming February 8 – 21, visit irtlive.com.
History Happy Hour: Black Literature
February 18th, 5:30-6:30
Free, Online
Hosted by Indiana Historical Society
Mari Evans. Amos Brown. Ethridge Knight. Much of the rich heritage of literature in Indiana has been influenced by African roots. Get lost in a book with us as we explore Black literature and its impact on Indiana with Nichelle Hayes from the Indianapolis Public Library.
Coffee with Friends with James Madison
February 21, 2-3 p.m.
Free, Online
Hosted by Monroe County Public Library and Indiana University Press
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us for Coffee with Friends in the comfort of your own home on Sunday, February 21 at 2 pm EST. The Friends of Monroe County Public Library invite you to gather via Zoom to enjoy a conversation with renowned author and historian, James Madison. Madison will discuss his recently released book, The Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland, in which he details the creation and reign of the infamous organization. He offers a detailed history of this powerful organization and examines how, through its use of intimidation, violence, religious belief, and the ballot box, the ideals of the Klan in the 1920s have on-going implications for America today.
The Friends of the Library are delighted to also welcome Carolyn Calloway-Thomas, the Chair of the Indiana University Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies who will facilitate the conversation with Madison. Bring your questions!Madison is the Thomas and Kathryn Miller Professor Emeritus of History at Indiana University. The Midwestern History Association recently honored him with the Frederick Jackson Turner Lifetime Achievement Award.
*** To participate in live Zoom events, please register with a valid email address at mcpl.info/friends. The link to the Zoom event will be emailed to you 30 minutes before the program begins. Please sign up as one person per household. This program will be recorded – if you would prefer not to be seen, please mute your video on Zoom*** See Less
The Legend of Bigfoot with ?Tammy Ayers and Mel Cabre
February 27, 12 p.m.
Free, online
Hosted by Speed City Sisters in Crime
?TAMMY AYERS and MEL CABRE, mother-and-daughter co-authors of the new book from Indiana University Press, “The Legend of Bigfoot,” will be with us in February to tell us about their research, their interest, the people who elevated Bigfoot to super-stardom, the history, science, the myths, and all things Sasquatch! Find out more.
Art & Soul
All of February
Presented by the Arts Council of Indianapolis
Art & Soul 2021 will kick off Black History Month in Indianapolis and mark ?25 years? of celebrating African-American art and music in Indiana. Art & Soul, traditionally hosted at the Indianapolis Artsgarden,will move online due to ongoing COVID-19 health and safety concerns. In January, the Arts Council, working with Indy Jazz Fest and Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, recorded shows by 16 artists and performers,along with special Black History Month content, at the Artsgarden.The Arts Council has partnered with WISH-TV to present highlights of these performances and special content at ?www.indyartandsoul.com? (hosted by WISH). Full performances will roll out during February on the Arts Council’s website. All events are free to watch and no registration is necessary. ?A schedule of events can be found at? indyarts.org/about/art-soul?.