Volume 3, Number 1
Learn more about plans to establish The American Writers Museum™
See what other people are saying about The American Writers Museum
Learn more about the Executive Planning Team and National Advisory Council
Fill out our online survey and tell us what you want to see in The American Writers Museum
Add your name to our mailing list and receive updates about The American Writers Museum
The mission of the American Writers Museum Foundation is to establish the first national museum in the United States dedicated to engaging the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture and our daily lives.
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 | "I enthusiastically support the efforts to place a national writers museum in Chicago. Such a museum will complement the rich offerings of the City's theaters, museums, libraries and musical activities, and add significantly to Chicago's vitality." -Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of the City of Chicago |
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Breaking News: AWM's First Online Exhibition Opens May 2012
AWM will launch its first online exhibition, Power of the Word: Leaders, Readers & Writers in May. Inspired by the gathering of world leaders in the U.S. for the Nobel Peace Laureate, G-8, and NATO Summits, this three-part exhibition will share fascinating insights about the reading experiences, early influences and favorite books of world leaders.
In addition, the exhibit will feature contemporary American writers, weighing in on what books they wish world leaders would read to better understand American culture. Finally, the exhibit will offer the opportunity for readers to offer their own recommended reading list of American works for foreign leaders.
We are very grateful for the funding support provided by Jay and Robin Hammer, IHS Inc., and the Schneider Electric North America Foundation.
You can learn more about the exhibit and provide your reading recommendations here: http://www.americanwritersmuseum.org/exhibits/
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It Takes a Village
The AWM offices are bustling with activity these days. Researching the reading habits of world leaders and reaching out to dozens of American writers in preparation for our first online exhibition has been exhilarating. Special thanks to our highly energetic and talented interns: Josh Cowan, Kelsey Grashoff, Rebecca Moore and Mallory Warner, all students at The George Washington University. AWM would not be where it is today if it were not for the many dedicated volunteers who serve on our board, executive planning team and advisory councils. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful people working on this very important endeavor.
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Progress on the Museum's Conceptual Plan
The conceptual plan for The American Writers Museum will be completed in April. The process has been guided by AWM's exhibit design firm, AMAZE Design, in Boston. Members of AWM's National and Chicago Advisory Councils, along with museum experts from around the country, participated in four charettes (brainstorming sessions), funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The charettes took place in Chicago, New York and Boston. Primary and secondary themes have been developed, and key elements of the Museum have been established, along with some discussion of presentation strategies.
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Get Ready: April is National Poetry Month...
First celebrated in 1996, the Academy of American Poets is once again sponsoring National Poetry Month this April. From putting a poem in a public place, to starting a poetry book club, to attending a poetry reading in your city, there are more than 30 ways to celebrate, all featured at the Academy's website. This year's Poetry Month poster was designed by Chin-Lee Yai, and features lines from U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine's poem, "Our Valley." Details here: http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41
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AWM at Writers' Conference in Chicago
Authors Stuart Dybek, Aleksandar Hemon and Nami Mun served on a panel sponsored by AWM at the recent AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) Annual conference in Chicago. Moderated by Noreen Tomassi of the Center for Fiction, the discussion focused on "Finding Home: Immigrant Voices in American Literature." Students from Northwestern and DePaul Universities staffed AWM's booth at the Book Expo. More than 9,500 people attended the three-day conference.
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Spotlight on an AWM Friend: The Center for Fiction
If you live in New York, or are planning a visit there, don't miss The Center for Fiction, founded in 1820. It's the only organization in the United States solely dedicated to honoring the art of fiction. Noreen Tomassi, a member of the AWM National Advisory Council, is the executive director of the Center for Fiction. The overall goal of the organization is "to encourage people to read and value fiction and to support and celebrate its creation and enjoyment." Can't get to the Big Apple? The Center for Fiction will come to you via its library of videos of your favorite authors. Are you a writer? The Center is launching their first Literarian short story writing competition, with a prize of $1,000! More here: http://www.centerforfiction.org/ |
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Follow us on Twitter: AmerWriterMuseum
If you follow AWM on Twitter (http://twitter.com/AmerWriteMuseum), you'll be treated to updates on author birthdays, famous quotes from our nation's leading literary voices, links to interesting literary articles, news of literary events, and much more. If you're not already following us, please consider joining in the fun!
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Featured Author Home: The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, Connecticut showcases the life and work of the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, while educating the community about race, class, and gender issues. The Stowe House was built in 1871 and is surrounded by Victorian-style gardens. http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/ |
The AWM Name-the-Author-Contest
Name the American authors who made the following statements: - "Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't."
- "The woman speaks eighteen languages and can't say 'No' in any of them."
- "Criticism is prejudice made plausible."
Send your answers via email (with "AWM Contest" in the subject line and your answers in the email message) to general@americanwritersmuseum.org. Remember to include your name and contact information. We'll have a drawing of all those who submit the correct answers and the winner of the drawing will win a $25 Amazon.com e-gift certificate. |
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