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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221023T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221023T160000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20220817T185325Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220817T185325Z
UID:1656-1666540800-1666540800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Prairie Lights: International Writing Program Sunday Reading Series
DESCRIPTION:Hear some of this years’ International Writing Program residents read from their work. Readers TBA.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/prairie-lights-international-writing-program-sunday-reading-series-9/
LOCATION:Prairie Lights Books\, 15 S. Dubuque St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221104T190000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T161553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T161553Z
UID:2212-1667584800-1667588400@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:NaNoWriMo Community Writing Center
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate NaNoWriMo Community Writing Center at Iowa City Public Library
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/nanowrimo-community-writing-center/2022-11-04/
LOCATION:Iowa City Public Library\, 123 S. Linn St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221107T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221107T120000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T161823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T161823Z
UID:2219-1667822400-1667822400@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Love\, Light\, & Lit: National Children’s Book Week
DESCRIPTION:National Children’s Book Week is BACK! North Liberty Library kicking off the month of November by spotlighting the best holiday picture books!
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/love-light-lit-national-childrens-book-week/
LOCATION:North Liberty Library\, 520 W. Cherry Street\, North Liberty\, 52317\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221109T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221109T190000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T161945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T161945Z
UID:2223-1668020400-1668020400@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:LAUREN HALDEMAN AND KAVEH AKBAR
DESCRIPTION:Please join with Lauren Haldeman who will talk about and show images from her book Team Photograph. She will be joined in conversation by Kaveh Akbar. In her extraordinary graphic novel–which masterfully incorporates poetry and elements of memoir–Lauren Haldeman layers the warfare of soccer over the battlefields now called Bull Run Regional Park\, where\, growing up\, her soccer team would practice and compete. The narrator turns to poetry and history to make sense of the town and its bloodshed\, of its forever attachment to injustice and its inability to restore erased identities. \nLauren Haldeman is the author of the graphic novel Team Photograph\, and the collections Instead of Dying (winner of the 2017 Colorado Prize for Poetry)\, Calenday\, and The Eccentricity is Zero. Her work has appeared in Poetry\, Tin House\, The Colorado Review\, The Iowa Review\, Fence and others. A graphic novelist and poet\, she’s received an Iowa Arts Fellowship\, a Sustainable Arts Foundation Award and visiting fellowships from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop\, Carnegie Mellon University\, Massachusetts College of Art and Design\, and University of Cape Town. \nKaveh Akbar is the author of the poetry collections: Pilgrim Bell and Calling a Wolf a Wolf\, the chapbook Portrait of the Alcoholic\, and he is the editor of The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 100 Poets on the Divine. In 2020 Kaveh was named Poetry Editor of The Nation. His honors include multiple Pushcart Prizes\, a Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship\, and the Levis Reading Prize. He teaches at the University of Iowa and in the low-residency MFA programs at Randolph College and Warren Wilson.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/lauren-haldeman-and-kaveh-akbar/
LOCATION:Prairie Lights Books\, 15 S. Dubuque St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221110T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221110T193000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T163007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T163007Z
UID:2234-1668108600-1668108600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:AN EVENING WITH ANNE LAMOTT
DESCRIPTION:Co-Presented by: True Endeavors & Prairie Lights Books\nAnne Lamott writes and speaks about subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism\, Motherhood\, Jesus. But armed with self-effacing humor – she is laugh-out-loud funny – and ruthless honesty\, Lamott converts her subjects into enchantment. Actually\, she writes about what most of us don’t like to think about. She wrote her first novel for her father\, the writer Kenneth Lamott\, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. She has said that the book was “a present to someone I loved who was going to die.” In all her novels\, she writes about loss – loss of loved ones and loss of personal control. She doesn’t try to sugar-coat the sadness\, frustration and disappointment\, but tells her stories with honesty\, compassion and a pureness of voice. As she says\, “I have a lot of hope and a lot of faith and I struggle to communicate that.” Anne Lamott does communicate her faith; in her books and in person\, she lifts\, comforts\, and inspires\, all the while keeping us laughing.\n\nAnne Lamott is the author of seven novels\, Hard Laughter\, Rosie\, Joe Jones\, Blue Shoe\, All New People\, Crooked Little Heart\, and Imperfect Birds. She has also written several bestselling books of nonfiction\, including\, Operating Instructions\, an account of life as a single mother during her son’s first year; Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son’s First Son; and the classic book on writing; Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. She has also authored several collections of autobiographical essays on faith; Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith\, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith\, and Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith. In addition\, she has written\, Help\, Thanks\, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers\, Stitches; A Handbook on Meaning\, Hope and Repair\, Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Moments of Grace\, Hallelujah Anyway; Rediscovering Mercy and Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. Her most recent book is Dusk\, Night\, Dawn: On Revival and Courage.\n\nLamott has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship\, and has taught at UC Davis\, as well as at writing conferences across the country. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Mock has made a documentary on Lamott\, entitled “Bird by Bird with Annie” (1999). Anne Lamott has also been inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/an-evening-with-anne-lamott/
LOCATION:Englert Theatre\, 221 E. Washington St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20221111
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20221113
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20220817T191013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220817T191013Z
UID:1683-1668124800-1668297599@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Mic Check Poetry Fest 2022: Ebony Stewart and Patricia Smith
DESCRIPTION:Two powerful poets and performers lead workshops on Saturday afternoon\, then perform live at The Englert Theatre Saturday night. All events available in-person and online at this hybrid festival.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/mic-check-poetry-fest-2022-ebony-stewart-and-patricia-smith/
LOCATION:Englert Theatre\, 221 E. Washington St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221112T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221112T200000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T162049Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T162049Z
UID:2225-1668283200-1668283200@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Slam O Vision International
DESCRIPTION:Registration not required: This is a free event! Walk-ins welcome. \n\n\n\n\nThe spoken word version of Eurovision\, hosted by the UNESCO Cities of Literature and their partners — where each City slams their way to the grand title of SlamOvision Champion! \nThe Slam O Vision event is a project of the international UNESCO Cities of Literature. Slam poets in 11 Cities of Literature compete to be named the Slam O Vision champion. \nIowa City poets and poetry lovers join us to watch and rank the 11 poets. The same will happen in the other participating Cities of Literature. The scores will be tabulated and an international Slam O Vision poet will be crowned. \nParticipants from Bucheon\, South Korea; Edinburgh\, Scotland; Iowa City; Heidelberg\, Germany; Melbourne\, Australia; Nottingham\, England; Quebec City\, Canada; Reykjavik\, Iceland; Seattle\, Tartu\, Estonia; and Utrecht\, the Netherlands will take part by video.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/slam-o-vision-international/
LOCATION:MERGE\, 136 S Dubuque St\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221113T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221113T120000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T162245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T162245Z
UID:2227-1668340800-1668340800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Give the Gift of Signed Books with Chloe Angyal
DESCRIPTION:Give the Gift of Signed Books this holiday season! Sidekick is delighted to host several authors as part of our new holiday tradition-giving signed books! We always offer complimentary gift wrapping! Chloe Angyal will be at Sidekick to sign on Sunday\, November 13th from 2pm-3pm.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/give-the-gift-of-signed-books-with-chloe-angyal/
LOCATION:Sidekick Coffee & Books\, 1310 1/2 Melrose Avenue\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52242\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221113T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221113T140000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T162424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T162424Z
UID:2229-1668348000-1668348000@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:RAINBOW ROWELL
DESCRIPTION:Join Prairie Lights Books for a reading and signing with New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell!   Seating is limited\, so if you pre-pay a pre-order a copy of her new book\, Scattered Showers\, we will be happy to save you a seat! \nRowell’s new book\, Scattered Showers (YA ages 14- 17)\, contains nine beautifully crafted love stories. Girl meets boy camping outside a movie theater. Best friends debate the merits of high school dances. A prince romances a troll. A girl romances an imaginary boy. And Simon Snow himself returns for a holiday adventure. It’s a feast of irresistible characters\, hilarious dialogue\, and masterful storytelling—in short\, everything you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell book! \nRainbow Rowell lives in Omaha\, Nebraska\, with her family. She’s the author of Eleanor & Park\,  Fangirl\,  Attachments\,  Landline\,  Pumpkinheads\, and the Simon Snow trilogy. \nPlease place pre-orders prior to Nov 11th. Books can be ordered here\, or you may call (319)337-2681(during store hours). Rowell will be happy to sign one book from home with any purchased for/at the event from Prairie Lights. \nMasks required!
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/rainbow-rowell/
LOCATION:Prairie Lights Books\, 15 S. Dubuque St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221119T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221119T103000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20221104T162600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T162600Z
UID:2231-1668853800-1668853800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Storytime at the Stanley
DESCRIPTION:Join Iowa City Public Library children’s librarians at the University of Iowa’s new Stanley Museum of Art for a very special storytime! \nWe’ll start with stories in the museum lobby from 10:30 to about 11 a.m. Enjoy listening to picture books celebrating the power of art and learn about artists who are part of the Stanley’s inaugural exhibition! Along with these read-alouds will be creative movement activities like rhymes\, songs\, and fingerplays. \nAfter storytime\, try a scavenger hunt through the museum and see world-class works of art up close. Get a set of colored pencils for finishing the hunt! Docents will be stationed throughout the galleries to help with the hunt and answer questions about the art. Browse the galleries as long as you like! \nAll are welcome\, but this storytime may be best suited for preschoolers and up. \nThe Stanley Museum of Art is located at 160 W. Burlington Street in Iowa City. Admission is free.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/storytime-at-the-stanley/
LOCATION:Univ. of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art\, 160 W Burlington St\, Iowa City\, 52242\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20221203T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20221203T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20220817T190042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220817T190042Z
UID:1674-1670072400-1670079600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Sidekick Coffee & Books: SANTA AT SIDEKICK
DESCRIPTION:Visit Santa at Sidekick! Santa will be available from 1pm-3pm. Please feel free to take your own photos!
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/sidekick-coffee-books-santa-at-sidekick/
LOCATION:Sidekick Coffee & Books\, 1310 1/2 Melrose Avenue\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52242\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230602
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230603
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20230531T174203Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230531T174203Z
UID:2843-1685664000-1685750399@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Paul Engle Glory of the Senses High School Essay Contest Deadline to Submit
DESCRIPTION:To continue Paul Engle’s tradition of inspiring writers and celebrating the rich culture of Iowa\, the City of Literature organization annually solicits essays from Iowa high school sophomore about an “Iowa experience\,” drawing on a specific memory to capture the sights\, sounds\, smells\, tastes and touches of the day. The author of the essay judged by reviewers to be the best receives one year of free tuition to the University of Iowa. A select number of runners up receive a $500 scholarship from the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. \nThe contest is based on Engle’s writings\, particularly his memoir\, A Lucky American Childhood. \nThe deadline for submissions for the 2023 contest is June 2. To view details about this year’s contest and how to submit\, click here.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/paul-engle-glory-of-the-senses-high-school-essay-contest-deadline-to-submit/
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Paul_Engle-204x300-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231002T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231002T203000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20230911T154253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230911T154253Z
UID:3100-1696271400-1696278600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:SlamoVision Poetry Competition
DESCRIPTION:Slam poets from around Iowa are invited to participate in a special international slam event in Iowa City on Oct. 2. \nSlamoVision is a project of the international UNESCO Cities of Literature. Slam poets in some of the 42 Cities of Literature around the world will compete in their home cities. One poet from each participating city will move on to an international competition to be judged by fans from the other cities. At the end of the process\, one poet will be named the SlamoVision champion for 2023. This is the fifth year for the international competition. \nThe Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature and Iowa City Poetry will co-host Iowa City’s slam poetry event at 6:30 p.m. on Monday\, Oct. 2\, at the Public Space One location at the Close House\, 538 S. Gilbert St. Poets from across Iowa may participate. Sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.; the slam begins at 7 p.m. Each poet has three-and-a-half minutes to perform. At the completion of three rounds\, the winning poet will be chosen to represent Iowa City in the international competition. \nTwelve Cities of Literature are participating in Slamovision 2023: Dublin (Ireland)\, Exeter (UK)\, Iowa City (US)\, Kuhmo (Finland)\, Ljubljana (Slovenia)\, Manchester (UK)\, Melbourne (Australia)\, Nottingham (UK) Québec City (Canada)\, Reykjavik (Iceland)\, Tartu (Estonia)\, and Vilnius (Lithuania). \nA video of the winning poet from the Oct. 2 event will be entered into the international contest. Audiences in each participating City of Literature will gather to watch and score the dozen video. The Iowa City watch event will be held as part of the Mic Check Poetry Fest\, Nov. 3-4. The scores from all of the cities will be tabulated and an international SlamoVision poet will be crowned during an online event on Dec. 5 hosted by the Nottingham City of Literature in England. \nCheck out the 2022 and 2021 winners:\nStrong Tea by Abíọ́dún ‘Abbey’ Abdul\nIsland Screams by Cara Thompson \nTo learn more and see all previous Slamovision Contestants\, please visit:\nhttps://cityofliterature.com.au/slam-o-vision/
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/slamovision-poetry-competition/
LOCATION:PS1 Close House\, 538 S Gilbert St\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SlamoVision-Instagram.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240423T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240423T160000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20240417T182949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240417T182949Z
UID:3534-1713877200-1713888000@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Marathon Public Reading of Shakespeare’s Sonnets
DESCRIPTION:April is Shakespeare’s birthday month (not to mention National Poetry Month)\, and Riverside Theatre and the City of Literature will celebrate by highlighting literary masterpieces rarely explored on stage: the Bard’s 154-poem sonnet cycle. This public reading will take place on the Ped Mall’s Weatherdance Fountain Stage on Tuesday\, April 23 from 1:00-4:00pm. We welcome ALL members of our community to sign up for a reading slot using this form. Volunteers will be notified at least a week before the event with their assigned time and sonnets.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/marathon-public-reading-of-shakespeares-sonnets/
LOCATION:Pedmall Weatherdance Fountain Stage\, College St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SHAKESPERE-SONNET-READING-MARATHON.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240424T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240424T180000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20240319T174530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240319T174530Z
UID:3478-1713981600-1713981600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Spring 2024 Simon & Schuster AuthorFest
DESCRIPTION:  \n \nJoin TJ Alexander\, Kaliane Bradley\, & Jackie Lau in conversation with Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings\, the duo behind the romance power-house Christina Lauren. WEDNESDAY\, APRIL 24th At 7PM ET/ 6 PM CT / 4 PM PT VIA ZOOM From fake relationships to star-crossed time travelers to queer throuples\, these authors are not your mother’s romance writers. Ahead of their upcoming releases\, Alexander\, Bradley\, and Lau will discuss what makes a great romance\, and how the genre can go beyond a simple love story. \n\nR.S.V.P. at www.simonandschuster.com/p/authorfest\n 
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/spring-2024-simon-schuster-authorfest/
LOCATION:A Virtual Event
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Simon-and-Schuster-2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240922T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240922T190000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20240910T150910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240910T150910Z
UID:3867-1727031600-1727031600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:SlamoVision Slam
DESCRIPTION:SlamoVision is a project of the international UNESCO Cities of Literature. Slam poets in some of the 53 Cities of Literature around the world will compete in their home cities. One poet from each participating city will move on to an international competition to be judged by fans from the other cities. At the end of the process\, one poet will be named the SlamoVision champion for 2024. \nHenry Morray\, winner of the 2022 Iowa City event\, will emcee the slam. \nThe Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature and Iowa City Poetry will co-host Iowa City’s slam poetry event at 7 p.m. on Sunday\, Sept. 22 at Close House\, 538 S. Gilbert St. Poets from across Iowa may participate. Sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.\, the slam begins at 7 p.m. Each poet has four minutes to perform. At the completion of three rounds\, the winning poet will be chosen to represent Iowa City in the international competition. \n 
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/slamovision-slam/
LOCATION:PS1 Close House\, 538 S Gilbert St\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/gif:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SlamOVision-1024x1024-1.gif
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241201T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241201T160000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20241118T153101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241118T153101Z
UID:4278-1733061600-1733068800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Let’s Move The Needle: Art and Activism in Community
DESCRIPTION:Join author\, artist and craftivist Shannon Downey for a community stitching event and book launch. Filled with reflection\, activities\, exercises\, prompts\, and stories\, her new book\, Let’s Move the Needle\, is both a how-to guide and a testament to the power of art and handwork to build community and make change. Everyone can be a changemaker\, and change-making can be enjoyable\, and a bit sassy! \nShannon Downey is the founder of Badass Cross Stitch and Seriously Badass Women\, and is an artist\, activist\, craftivist\, community builder\, and general instigator. She is on the faculty at Columbia College Chicago and currently lives in Chicago\, Illinois. \n2-3:00 PM Reading\, Q&A and book-signing – Prairie Lights Books will be here with copies of Shannon Downey’s Let’s Move the Needle for sale. \n3-4:00 PM Community Stitch-Fest – Get inspired and have some fun! Bring a project or we’ll have instructions and a pattern for learning. \nCosponsored by Prairie Lights Books and Home Ec Workshop.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/lets-move-the-needle-art-and-activism-in-community/
LOCATION:Iowa City Public Library\, 123 S. Linn St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lets-Move-the-Needle.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250909T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250909T180000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20250905T182440Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250905T182440Z
UID:4836-1757440800-1757440800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Slamovision 2025 Qualifying Slam
DESCRIPTION:Slam poets from around Iowa are invited to participate in a special slam on Sept. 9 that will pick our entrant for an international slam competition. \nSlamoVision is a project of the international UNESCO Cities of Literature. Slam poets in 18 of the 53 Cities of Literature around the world will compete in their home cities. One poet from each participating city will move on to an international competition to be judged by fans from the other cities. At the end of the process\, one poet will be named the SlamoVision champion for 2025. \nCaleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey\, winner of the 2023 Iowa City event\, will emcee the slam. \nThe Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature and Iowa City Poetry will co-host Iowa City’s slam poetry event at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday\, Sept. 9 at Close House\, 538 S. Gilbert St. Poets from across Iowa may participate. Sign-up begins at 6 p.m.\, the slam begins at 6:30 p.m. Each poet has three minutes to perform. At the completion of three rounds\, the winning poet will be chosen to represent Iowa City in the international competition. \n \nA video of the winning poet from the Sept. 9 event will be entered into the contest. Iowa City poets and poetry lovers will convene during the Iowa City Book Festival\, to watch and rank the poets from the other participating cities. This same process will happen in the other Cities of Literature. That judging event will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday\, Oct. 10\, in Meeting Room A of the Iowa City Public Library. The scores will be tabulated and an international SlamoVision poet will be crowned during an online event at noon on Nov. 5\, hosted by the Dublin City of Literature. \nParticipating Cities of Literature are Bremen\, Germany; Dublin\, Ireland; Exeter\, UK; Gothenburg\, Sweden; Heidelberg\, Germany; Iowa City; Kozhikode\, India; Ljubljana\, Slovenia; Manchester\, UK; Melbourne\, Australia; Nottingham\, UK; Odessa\, Ukraine; Quebec City\, Canada; Reykjavik\, Iceland; Slemani\, Iraq; Tartu\, Estonia; Vilnius\, Lithuania; and Wroclaw\, Poland.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/slamovision-2025-qualifying-slam/
LOCATION:PS1 Close House\, 538 S Gilbert St\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Slamovision-2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251108T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251108T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T153534Z
UID:5114-1762606800-1762614000@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2025-11-08/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251116T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251116T113000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251107T153134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T153223Z
UID:5139-1763285400-1763292600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Writing from Stillness: A Workshop on Mindfulness\, Presence\, and Creative Clarity
DESCRIPTION:In her book Relational Mindfulness: A Handbook for Deepening Our Connection with Ourselves\, Each Other\, and the Planet\, Deborah Eden Tull writes that “Deep listening is an act of love. Listening to life as it unfolds moment by moment\, with our full presence\, is the essence of meditation.” In this workshop we’ll explore–through writing and mindfulness exercises– how paying close\, mindful attention to what’s around us\, and within us\, can enhance both our writing and our lived experience as creators. We’ll learn how mindful awareness can quiet the inner critic\, calm our hearts\, sharpen our powers of observation\, and deepen our writing practice. With the help of guided meditations and generative writing prompts\, participants will leave feeling more grounded\, open\, and creatively engaged. This workshop may be of benefit to writers\, professionals\, creatives\, journalers\, or anyone seeking clarity and calm through mindful writing. \nLink: This workshop is free but registration is required. \nInstructor Bio: \nStephen Pradarelli is the communications director for the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation\, a global Buddhist organization founded by Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In 2016\, he founded Winding Path Sangha\, which offers regular sitting and walking meditation opportunities. He’s a former journalist\, communications strategist\, crisis manager\, book editor\, essayist\, and fiction writer. He’s also a private pilot and loves reading\, hiking\, traveling\, and playing guitar.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/writing-from-stillness-a-workshop-on-mindfulness-presence-and-creative-clarity/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/writing-from-stillness.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251116T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251116T140000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251014T143441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T154940Z
UID:5107-1763301600-1763301600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:2025 Paul Engle Prize Ceremony Honoring Cole Swensen
DESCRIPTION:Cole Swensen has been named the 14th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize\, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization. \nThe prize\, established in 2011\, honors an individual who\, like Paul Engle\, represents a pioneering spirit in the world of literature through writing\, editing\, publishing\, or teaching\, and whose active participation in the larger issues of the day has contributed to the betterment of the world through the literary arts. \nSwensen is a poet\, editor\, and translator\, who taught in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop from 2001 to 2012. She then taught at Brown University until her retirement in 2023. \nShe is the author of 20 collections of poetry\, including And And And\, a finalist for the Griffin Poetry Prize\, Art in Time\, Gravesend\, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award in Poetry; Goest\, a finalist for the National Book Award; Try\, winner of the Iowa Poetry Prize and the San Francisco State University Poetry Center Book Award; and New Math\, winner of the National Poetry Series. \nSwensen has translated more than 30 books of French poetry\, creative nonfiction\, and art criticism\, and won the 2024 National Translation Award from ALTA and the 2025 Stephen Mitchell Translation Prize. She was awarded a 2006 Guggenheim Fellowship and has been a writer-in-residence at Yale’s Beinecke Library\, the Pratt Institute\, and Temple University. Swensen was the founder and editor of La Presse\, an imprint of Fence Books that was dedicated to the translation of contemporary French poetry. \nSwensen will receive the award at a ceremony at 2 p.m. on November 16\, at the Coralville Public Library. Christopher Merrill will join Swensen in conversation. The event is free and open to the public. Book signing and reception to follow. \nThe Paul Engle Prize is made possible through the generous support of the City of Coralville\, which is home to 11 permanent sculptures with artistic and literary ties to Iowa. The sculptures all have ties to work found in The Iowa Writers’ Library\, housed in the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel\, which features about 800 books written by former students\, graduates and faculty of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. \nPaul Engle (October 12\, 1908 – March 22\, 1991)\, though best remembered as the long-time director of the Writers’ Workshop and co-founder with his wife\, Hualing Nieh Engle\, of the UI’s International Writing Program\, also was a well-regarded poet\, playwright\, essayist\, editor and critic. In 2000\, then-Gov. Tom Vilsack declared Engle’s birthday\, Oct. 12\, as “Paul Engle Day” in Iowa. \nPrevious winners of the prize are: James Alan McPherson\, Kwame Dawes\, Luis Alberto Urrea\, Roxane Gay\, Alexander Chee\, Dina Nayeri\, Toi Derricotte\, Cornelius Eady\, Dr. Eve L. Ewing\, Rebecca Solnit\, Joan Naviyuk Kane\, and Camille Dungy. Visit www.iowacityofliterature.org/paul-engle-day for more information about the prize and past winners.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/2025-paul-engle-prize-ceremony-honoring-cole-swensen/
LOCATION:Coralville Public Library\, 1401 5th St.\, Coralville\, IA\, 52241\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/swensen-2023-scaled-e1756829866798.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251118T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251118T190000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251009T154641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251111T174337Z
UID:5079-1763492400-1763492400@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Paul Engle’s Community of Writers
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special conversation with Paul Engle’s daughter\, Mary Burge. Growing up during the early years of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop\, Mary witnessed its history firsthand and will share vivid stories from that time. She will be joined by her partner\, Will Boutelle\, the “boy next door” in Engle’s American Child sonnets\, who will also share memories and reflections. \nFeaturing special guest\, Reed Hagan\, winner of the 2025 Paul Engle Glory of the Senses High School Essay Contest. \nThis program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. \nPaul Engle (October 12\, 1908 – March 22\, 1991)\, was born in Cedar Rapids\, Iowa\, on October 12\, 1908\, and grew up in a frame house in the Wellington Heights area. After graduating from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids\, Engle attended Coe College and the University of Iowa where he was one of the first students to earn an advanced degree based on a thesis of creative work—a collection of poems.  His first published collection\, Worn Earth\, went on to win the Yale Series of Young Poets. His best-selling second book of poetry\, American Song\, was heralded on the cover of the New York Times Book Review in a headline declaring him “A New Voice in American Poetry”.  After Iowa\, Engle travelled as a Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University in England. \nThough Engle did not found the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa\, he built its reputation as the top graduate writing program in the United States. During his tenure as director\, he was responsible for luring some of the finest writers of the day to Iowa City: Phillip Roth\, John Berryman\, Kurt Vonnegut\, and many other prominent novelists and poets served as faculty under Engle. Additionally\, Engle increased enrollment and oversaw numerous students of future fame and influence\, including Flannery O’Connor\, John Irving\, Raymond Carver\, William Stafford\, and Robert Bly. \nAfter directing the Writers’ Workshop for twenty-four years\, Engle and future-second-wife Nieh Hualing co-founded The University of Iowa’s International Writing Program\, which invited dozens of published authors from around the globe to visit the University of Iowa to write and collaborate. For their work with the IWP\, Engle and his wife were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976.  Engle died at the age of eighty-two\, having published fourteen books of poetry\, a novel\, a memoir\, and an opera libretto\, and his literary legacy lives on in the lives and works of those authors he helped to educate and inspire. \nIn 2000\, nearly a decade after his death\, Paul Engle was declared Iowa’s “Poet of the Century” and then-Governor Tom Vilsack declared that Engle’s birthday\, October 12th\, would hereafter be known as “Paul Engle Day” to honor this life of creativity\, mentorship\, and generosity. \nLearn more about Paul Engle by watching our documentary\, City of Literature\n\n 
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/paul-engles-utopian-community-of-writers/
LOCATION:Iowa City Public Library\, 123 S. Linn St.\, Iowa City\, IA\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Paul-Engle-Nov-18-Program.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20251213T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20251213T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5144-1765630800-1765638000@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2025-12-13/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260110T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260110T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5145-1768050000-1768057200@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-01-10/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260214T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260214T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065004
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5146-1771074000-1771081200@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-02-14/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260314T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260314T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065005
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5147-1773493200-1773500400@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-03-14/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260411T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260411T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065005
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5148-1775912400-1775919600@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-04-11/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260509T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260509T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065005
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5149-1778331600-1778338800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-05-09/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260613T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260613T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065005
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5150-1781355600-1781362800@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-06-13/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260711T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260711T150000
DTSTAMP:20260410T065005
CREATED:20251027T150533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251027T150533Z
UID:5151-1783774800-1783782000@www.iowacityofliterature.org
SUMMARY:Queer Writers’ Check In
DESCRIPTION:This group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing\, discussion of works in progress\, and general literary support. Occasionally\, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. The group will meet at PorchLight Literary Arts Center (1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City) and is co-hosted by Public Space One.
URL:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/queer-writers-check-in/2026-07-11/
LOCATION:PorchLight Literary Arts Center\, 1019 E Washington St\, Iowa City\, 52240\, United States
CATEGORIES:General
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iowacityofliterature.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/queer-logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR