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  • Palabra Pura: One Poet, One Poem

    La Bruquena Restaurant 2726 W. Division, Chicago, IL, United States

    ¡Anímate! The Guild Literary Complex is happy to announce that our annual Palabra Pura: One Poet, One Poem tradition is coming this July. All poets are welcome to perform a poem, whether it...

    Free

  • Fountain Square LitFest

    Fountain Square | 1601 Sherman Ave. | Evanston, IL Bookends & Beginnings and the Guild Literary Complex present an afternoon of literary celebration on Saturday, August 23rd, from 12-8pm. Immerse...

    Free

  • Transvengence Vol. 9: Queer Pop-up

    Podlasie Club 2918 N Central Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Join us after Printers Row Lit Fest at Podlasie Club for TRANSVENGENCE: VOL. 9! Our regular show this month will close off the literary weekend with special performances following an audience open mic. Host: Joss Barton Featured Artist: Joy Guidry Joy Guidry Joy Guidry is a bassoonist, versatile improviser, performance artist, and composer of experimental, daring...

    Free
  • rainbow colors background thick stripes with black and white lettering- picture of Crystal Vance Guerra and info for Slam Diáspora

    ¡Slam Diáspora en Vivo!

    PACH 21 2141 W 21st St, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person. Poets/participants have a chance to win a free international trip to compete in the international slam. Hosted by Crystal Vance Guerra and Luis Tubens "Logan Lu"

    $5
  • "Women’s Writers Showcase promotional image featuring headshots of six women writers: Virginia Bell, Eiren Caffall, Marcy Rae Henry, J.S. Jones, Maud Lavin, Sahar Mustafah. Event details on the right: Tuesday, Sept 30th, 6:30PM CT at Haymarket House, 800 W. Buena."

    Women’s Writers Showcase

    Haymarket House 800 W. Buena Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    The Guild Complex and Haymarket Books feature six new books by six amazing, local self- identifying female authors, centering fiction, poetry and short stories about the magic of water, ancestral legacy, grief, longing and memory. A lineup not to be missed!

    $5

  • Alt text: Green promotional poster for the 31st Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) Live. Features finalist names and event details for October 2 at 6:30 PM (doors at 6) at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Finalists include Barbara Barrows Chirskira Caillouet Mars April Caulton Sylvia Ewing Lisa Farver Rocio Franco Gregorio Gomez Crystal Vance Guerra Wesley Frazier Keys Miguel Marzana Ciara Miller Hilesh Patel Sayeda Qader Sandra Santiago Samina Hadi-Tabassum Kara Rose Trojan

    GBOMA 2025

    Epiphany Center for the Arts 201 South Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    Come out and support the 2025 finalists for the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) as they perform their works live. 10/7, Epiphany Center for the Arts, 6:30 PM. $15/advance, $20/door.

    $15
  • rainbow colors background thick stripes with black and white lettering- picture of Crystal Vance Guerra and info for Slam Diáspora

    ¡Slam Diáspora en Vivo!

    Taqueria El Mezquite 1756 W 18th St, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person. Poets/participants have a chance to win a free international trip to compete in the international slam. Hosted by Crystal Vance Guerra and Luis Tubens "Logan Lu"

  • Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories

    Experimental Station 6100 S. Blackstone (take Dorchester to 61st street then head east; free street and lot parking), Chicago, IL, United States

    Join us on Halloween weekend for a presentation of the new anthology by From Beyond Press, Red Line: Chicago Horror Stories. Contributors Jotham Austin II, Bendi Barrett, Tina Jenkins Bell,...

  • Write That Down! Show & Tell

    Podlasie Club 2918 N Central Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Write That Down! invites you to our first “Show and Tell” presented by Chicago’s Guild Literary Complex. SHOW a keepsake that’s dear to you, a favorite bit of junk, or...

  • ¡Slam Diáspora en Vivo!

    Taqueria El Mezquite 1756 W 18th St, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! Participants have a chance to win a trip to a Latin American country (TBD) to compete in the international...

  • ¡Slam Diáspora en Vivo!

    Taqueria El Mezquite 1756 W 18th St, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Last chance! Join us for the final Slam Diáspora of 2025 - the first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago. Participants have a chance to win a trip to...

  • Transvengence Vol. 10: Holiday Edition

    Podlasie Club 2918 N Central Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Join us again at Podlasie Club for our recurring open mic/performance series, TRANSVENGENCE VOL.10! Our regular show this month brings a special holiday twist with guest performances by Celeste, Noa...

  • Write That Down! Show & Tell

    Podlasie Club 2918 N Central Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Write That Down! invites you to the second of our monthly “Show & Tell” series at Podlasie Club in partnership with Chicago’s Guild Literary Complex. SHOW a keepsake that’s dear...

  • Write That Down! Show & Tell

    Podlasie Club 2918 N Central Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Write That Down! is hosting a very special LOVE themed Show & Tell for February! Bring a keepsake that celebrates love in your life be it platonic, romantic, or some...

  • MOJO&MUSE: A Performance Speakeasy

    Watershed Art & Ecology 1821 S. Racine Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

    Get ready to experience a night of magic and creativity at MOJO&MUSE – where art comes to life! A special speakeasy of art and community. Join us for an exciting...

  • Palabra Pura

    18th Street Casa de Cultura 2057 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL, United States

    Poetry open mic hosted by Diego Báez. Featuring performances by Angelica Julia Dávila, Loren Maria Guay, and Yazud E. Brito-Milian. Palabra Pura is a bilingual reading series that promotes literary...

    Free
  • Eventbrite Banner for Artist talk by Faylita Hicks. Picture of Faylita at the mic and info in the text.

    Digital Archives of the Unseen: Artist Talk

    Walls Turned Sideways 2717 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL, United States

    Artist Talk: Memory, Erasure, and the Living Archive Interdisciplinary, interdimensional artist, writer, and ritual maker Faylita Hicks joins Walls Turned Sideways Gallery, a nationally recognized space centering art, justice, and...

    Free
  • Write That Down! event photo collage in center, with launch details and logos on purple background.

    Write That Down! Autumn/Winter Launch Party

    1902 N Milwaukee Ave 1902 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States

    Write That Down! Mag is back with their new Autumn/Winter Issue and we want to celebrate with you! RSVP ON PARTYCLICK Write That Down! is an archival project capturing the...

    Free

  • Brown event flyer with names of artists, event info, and side triangle

    New/Next Writers Showcase

    Haymarket House 800 W. Buena Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Celebrate a next generation of writers with us who've recently come out with new books.   This showcase aims to highlight local writers and their new/upcoming work.   Join us for a community reading featuring local Chicago writers: Meredith Nnoka Noa Fields Meghan Malachi Lisa Low Noel Quiñones Kameryn Carter Natasha Mijares

    Free

  • Write That Down! Show & Tell

    Evoke Gallery 3040 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

    Write That Down! Mag invites you to “Show & Tell” presented by Chicago’s Guild Literary Complex. Write That Down! is back with a special edition of our Show & Tell series in tandem with Promise(d), the first exhibition curated by Teddy Sandler at Evoke Gallery. This group show explores destiny and manifests a collective dream...

    Free
  • Angela Jackson workshop flyer

    Poem as Autobiography Workshop w/ Angela Jackson

    Join us during National Poetry Month for a special online workshop series with 5th Illinois Poet Laureate, Angela Jackson! Poem as Autobiography is a virtual course designed to explore and...

    $50.00

  • 35 Writers to Watch: Celebration Party

    Epiphany Center for the Arts 201 South Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

    The Guild Complex’s 35 Writers to Watch list celebrates the Guild’s 35+ years of innovative programming by featuring local writers whose careers represent the future of the literary arts in Chicago, and whose work reflects the spirit and values of the Guild Complex today. Names were put forth by our folks from our diverse literary...

  • Photo of gwendolyn brooks in green banner that reads "a celebration of gwendolyn brooks"

    BrooksDay 2026

    Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library 400 South State Street, Chicago, IL, United States

    Join the Guild Literary Complex’s annual celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks, held every year on her birthday, June 7th. BrooksDay is the Guild Literary Complex’s annual celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks, held every year on June 7th, the anniversary of her birth.   Since 2013, BrooksDay has been a marquee event in the Guild’s yearly calendar with...

    Free
  • Photo by GlitterGuts of bassoonist and artist at DJ book for Transvengence event

    Transvengence Vol. 12

    Podlasie Club 2918 N Central Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois

    Join us during Pride Month for TRANSVENGENCE, our bimonthly open mic and performance series, hosted by Joss Barton. Join us during Pride Month for TRANSVENGENCE, our bimonthly open mic and performance series, hosted by Joss Barton. Featured performers TBA.

    Free