Welcome
Since 1989, the Guild Literary Complex has served the Chicago community through innovative programming that highlights the intersections of marginality, the power of community, and the impact of arts and activism. We build on Chicago’s rich literary traditions through vibrant storytelling and radical inclusion, advancing access to and from the margins. The Guild Literary Complex supports and encourage voices of all backgrounds and experiences to tell their truths, whether they are literary powerhouses or talented newcomers. We view literature as a vehicle of connectivity, and aim to merge seemingly disparate groups across Chicago's 50 wards. The Guild Literary Complex is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working in collaboration with the City of Chicago and organizations like the Poetry Foundation, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, The Southeast Asian Center, Brooks Permissions, Third World Press, Sones de Mexico and many others, creating dynamic programming highlighting our varied and robust literary community of voices speaking from the margins.

Latest Blog Posts

2017 Author’s Challenge Grant is here!
11/17/2017Dear Friends of the Guild, The 2017 Author’s Challenge Grant is here! For us, our camaraderie with authors here in Chicago is one of the brightest and most powerful reasons for our ongoing work, and we are so grateful to be able to continue sharing new voices with each and every one of you. As … Read More

Each Other’s Harvest, Annual Summit on Homelessness
11/02/2017Each Other’s Harvest, Annual Summit on Homelessness A 2017 Guild Literary Complex Applied Words Program Wilson Abbey 935 West Wilson Avenue, Uptown, Chicago, IL 60640 This event is free and open to the public. ~ Thursday, November 16, 2017 6:00 PM Doors & Mingle with visual arts show, 6:30 PM Performances 8:00 PM Dinner & … Read More

Arts & Environment at Chopin Theatre with Lisa Wagner, and many others
10/16/2017Lisa Wagner of the Guild Literary Complex will be presenting on Public Art and Gwendolyn Brooks in conjunction with the Chopin Theatre and a whole host of amazing artists and thinkers. I hope you will join us there. Here are the details: 10/21/17 – 10/21/17 8:30 am complimentary Breakfast; 10a presentation & discussion For Immediate … Read More

Transnational Poetics, Reading and Conversation | Chopin Theatre | Nov. 5, 2017 | 6:00 PM
10/16/2017THE GUILD PRESENTS A CONVERSATION ON TRANSNATIONAL POETICS Sunday November 5th 2017, 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60642 STUART COOKE | NATANIA ROSENFELD | TONI NEALIE Please join the Guild LIterary Complex in a conversation with authors and poets Stuart Cooke, Natania Rosenfeld, and Toni Nealie as we journey … Read More

Arts in the Dark Chicago with the Guild | October 21st
10/10/2017Arts in the Dark with the Guild and Partners — we are looking for marchers! Here is an opportunity to celebrate the literary arts! The Guild Literary Complex is looking for people to walk in Chicago’s Arts in the Dark Parade, Saturday October 21st from 6 PM to 8 PM on Columbus (between Balbo and Monroe). Join us as we become … Read More

Brooks In Translation | Wednesday, October 18, 2017
10/09/2017Brooks In Translation | Wednesday, October 18, 2017 Come for a night of bilingual Brooks with poetry, music, conversation, and more! Join the Guild Literary Complex in partnership with Our Miss Brooks 100, Brooks Permissions, Chicago Community Trust, and the Chicago Public Library as we bring you a very special Palabra Pura celebrating the life … Read More

GBOMA Semi-Finalists Announced
09/25/2017The 24th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards Semi-Finalists Are Announced! They are in alphabetical order by last name: Bianca Lisa Araujo | The Fusion of Fault Lines Jocelyn Ajami | “Still Until” Asia Calcagno | “Song From the street, A Golden Shovel Poem” Hannah Cantafio | “The Cure” Suman Chhabra | “Thin” Apple Rhodes Gunther | … Read More

CHICAGO CITY OF REFUGE INITIATIVE Readings and Remembrance, Oct 15th
09/20/2017CHICAGO CITY OF REFUGE INITIATIVE Readings and Remembrance: Writing and Witness with WENDY PEARLMAN | LUCINA KATHMANN interviewed by Unoma Azuah and Riad Ismat Please join the Chicago City of Refuge Initiative as we discuss writing as an act of witness as Chicago City of Refuge writers Unoma Azuah and Riad Ismat interview scholar Wendy … Read More

GBOMA Semi-Finalists — Announcement Coming Soon!
09/20/2017We have heard from the judges that the competition is just so close they are having a hard time making a final decision on the semi-finalists. We hope to be back to you with the list of semi-finalists tomorrow, but certainly by Friday the 22nd at the latest! Please plan to join us Sept 27, … Read More