Welcome
The Guild Literary Complex is a 501c3 nonprofit bringing together the varied voices of Chicago and the world through innovative and integrative programming highlighting the intersections of marginality, the power of community, the impact of arts and activism, with a mission of social justice and literary arts for all. We are your on-going curated literary festival serving Chicago’s 50 wards since 1989. 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, the Guild Literary Complex creates dynamic programming highlighting our varied and robust literary community speaking from and giving voice to the margins.
Please join the Guild Literary Complex for our upcoming events ~ you are invited!
23rd Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards, Finalists Announced
Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards Tuesday September 27th, 2016 7:30 – 9:30 PM Chopin Theatre, 1543 West Division, Chicago, IL 60642 Finalists for the 23rd Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards announced! In Alphabetical order by last name they are: Bianca Lisa Araujo — The Limes in my Grandfather’s Garden Catalina Bode — I am the daughter … Read More
Quraysh Ali Lansana at Volumes Bookscafe Saturday!
Join us the weekend of Wicker Park & West Town Lit Fest for a special reading from the newest book from the amazing Quraysh Ali Lansana! He will be reading from a never before seen book! A Gift from Greensboro (Ages 5 & up) is at once an elegy, a celebration of the magic of … Read More
Fuller Award Celebrating Rosellen Brown, October 6th, 7:00-9:00 at Poetry Foundation
Join the Guild Literary Complex, The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, and the Poetry Foundation as we celebrate the great writers of Chicago. This year we are celebrating one of our very own: Rosellen Brown. Mark your calendars to come and celebrate Rosellen’s amazing body of work, not to mention a life dedicated to the … Read More
Wicker Park and West Town Lit Fest Sept 15-18
The Guild Literary Complex is back for our Fall 2016 season! Launching us off is the Wicker Park and West Town Lit Fest, September 15-18th with Guild Events partnered with Volumes Book Cafe, 826 Chicago, Young Chicago Authors, Book Club, Chicago PRC, Quimby’s Bookstore, Myopic Books, and Impossible Industries. Join us Saturday September 17th at Volumes … Read More
Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic awards submissions EXTENDED to September 15, 2016
Call for 2016 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic awards submissions DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 15th! Guild Literary Complex announces its open call for poetry submissions for the 23rd Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award. Deadline to submit is has been extended to September 15th, 2016! Twenty (20) selected semi-finalists will compete for a $500 prize in front of a voting … Read More
Palabra Pura: A Night of Corridos
The Guild Literary Complex presents: PALABRA PURA: A Night of Corridos July 20, 2016 7:30 – 9:00 PM, La Catrina Cafe 1011 W 18th St, Chicago, Illinois 60608 Hosted by Juan Díes, folklorist and co-founder of the GRAMMY-nominated Sones de México Ensemble. Palabra Pura promotes literary expression in more than one tongue through a bi-monthly bilingual … Read More
Join us where margins meet ~ the Guild’s 7th annual benefit
The GUILD LITERARY COMPLEX is set to party with you on June 22nd 6:00 – 9:00 PM at Filament theatre. Get your Tickets TODAY! Come celebrate nearly 30 years of the Guild’s legacy in Chicago as we look to our next 30. Performances, music, fun, food and drink will round out a night with some … Read More
4th Annual BrooksDay is Here! Join us June 7th, Chicago Cultural Center
Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Time: 10:00 am until 6:00 pm Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602. Join us for the fourth annual BrooksDay, celebrating the works of Gwendolyn Brooks on her birthday! We are honoring her tremendous legacy as an artist and an iconic figure of generosity and civic conscience in … Read More
May 26th! Artist Talk on music, Mary J. Blige, race and the role of women in the artistic markets, meets with RAP 101
Thursday May 26, 2016. Wicker Park Chicago Guild Literary Complex Presents: Where Margins Meet 5:30 – 7:30 PM Artist Talk with Danny Alexander, Volumes Bookcafe 7:30 Door, 8:00 – 9:45 PM RAP 101, Iridium Clothing Danny Alexander, the author of Real Love, No Drama: The Music of Mary J. Blige will be sitting in with … Read More