Amplifying voices. Honoring legacy. Building what’s next.
Since 1989, the Guild Literary Complex has been elevating the literary voices of Chicago by connecting writers, artists, and audiences across the city. Born from a community bookstore and shaped by decades of pioneering and inclusive programming, the Guild Literary Complex brings together people and ideas through readings, performances, conversations, and experimental art that celebrate language.
From honoring the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks to Spanish-language programming and amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices, our work centers the literary as a powerful force for connection, reflection, and social imagination.
Words matter.
Upcoming Events
Find us across Chicago for readings, conversations, and community.
Latest from the Guild
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Submissions Now Open for the 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA)
We’re excited to announce that submissions are now open for the 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA)! This annual poetry competition celebrates the legacy of Illinois’ former Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks, by uplifting emerging poets and giving them a platform to share their work. Interested poets can find full submission guidelines and apply here:…
