American Writers Museum

10/13/2026

Still figuring out your plans for next week? Look no further than the AWM! Join us on Tuesday for Get Lit: Witch Please to celebrate this spooky season 🎃

We'll have a costume contest, trivia, crafts, and of course, a specialty cocktail -- what's a witch without a little something brewing in the cauldron?

Get tickets here!

Something's bubbling in our cauldron! Join us for Get Lit: Witch Please, a spooky celebration of all things witches, magic, and the macabre!

10/12/2026

This weekend, join us for a free day at the AWM and a celebration of Black poetry! October 17 is annually recognized as National Black Poetry Day to celebrate the contributions of Black poets and writers throughout this country’s history.

Presented in partnership with the Guild Literary Complex, local Chicago poets will present readings from their favorite Black poets, emceed by Faylita Hicks. Additional readers include:
- Wesley Frazier Keys
- Kenyatta Rogers
- Kira Tucker
- Lotus Fulton

This program is offered to coincide with the Loop Arts District Festival. The AWM will be present during the festival, where we will explore the legacy of Black poets and engage with their work through interactive activations based on current and past exhibits, most notably Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice.

10/08/2026

October Staff Picks are here! Explore what the AWM team is reading, watching, and listening to this month. These staff-selected recommendations are a great way to find your next pick to cuddle up with this fall. https://hubs.ly/Q04zG0Sr0

10/06/2026

Join us Thursday for a special Poetry reading with Irish poet Micheal O'Siadhail. From 11am - 1:30pm, immerse yourself in a lyrical meditation on the relationships between humanity and nature, despair and faith, and the richness of courage in the acts of healing.

Get tickets here:
https://hubs.ly/Q04zmVz10

10/06/2026

This week is Banned Books Week! The most common justifications for banning books were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice. Join the fight for the freedom to read at https://hubs.ly/Q04zk8390
Artwork courtesy of the American Library Association, www.ala.org

10/06/2026

10/01/2026

Spooky season is here at the AWM! Join us this month for some seasonal fun, including:

🎃 Daily Pumpkin Hunt through the museum
🧙‍♀️Get Lit: Witch Please

As well as author talks, poetry readings, and more! Check out all of our upcoming events here https://hubs.ly/Q04y-r9S0

09/30/2026

Our annual Pumpkin Hunt begins tomorrow! Visit the museum this spooky season to track down the runaway pumpkins hidden among your favorite works of American writing. Find all of the pumpkins and win a special prize! Perfect for kids, families, and the young-at-heart, this scavenger hunt is a festive way to experience the museum in a whole new light.

09/25/2026

Authors Lilia Fernández and Felipe Hinojosa explore the intertwined histories of Latino faith, politics, and community formation in postwar Chicago and beyond in our newest episode of Author Talks! Listen at the link below or wherever you get your podcasts!

https://hubs.ly/Q04yl1Z10

09/23/2026

If you haven't gotten tickets for tonight's event, what are you waiting for?! Hear Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez discuss Grande's new essay collection, "Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can't Forget"

Get tickets here! https://hubs.ly/Q04y8WCf0